With the City Council expected to consider new citywide regulations for food trucks in the coming months, Long Beach is inviting the community to share their thoughts on the city’s state of food truck operations through a public survey released Friday.
The 26-question form, which can be taken up until April 2, asks surveyors to measure the importance of food trucks and to share any concerns with food truck operations, such as location or health and safety protocols.
“The City is committed to supporting food truck entrepreneurial opportunities, while also addressing the needs and concerns of residents, business owners, current food truck operators, and other key stakeholders,” the city said in a statement Friday.
Long Beach restaurant owners have previously complained about food truck vendors stealing business from them, leaving them at odds over where food trucks should be allowed to park and operate.
Under the city’s current ordinance, food trucks are only allowed to operate in construction zones. But the city is working to modernize its local laws to align with state laws, which include allowing them to operate within 200 feet of a restroom that the business can access.
The City Council is also considering requiring trucks to obtain a city health permit. As of now, food truck vendors are only required to obtain a permit from the county and are not subject to enforcement from city departments.
Officials advise anyone with limited computer or smartphone access to visit one of Long Beach’s public library locations to take the survey, offered in English, Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog.
The food truck regulations survey differs from the city’s sidewalk vendor survey, which was launched in November and closed in December. More updates on the sidewalk vendor regulation efforts can be found by visiting longbeach.gov/sidewalkvending.
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