City Council Approves Yearly Permits To Food Truck Vendors

The push by food truck vendors for more modern, reasonable regulations is finally granted by city council members.

Vendors can now buy an unlimited yearly permit to operate in Oklahoma City.

More than 50 food trucks from across the state are expected for the H&8th event downtown. 

It's already being called one of the largest food truck events in the country, but at one point, the vendors feared city ordinances could put them out of business.

Lance King and his wife are new to the food truck industry. They've only had their gourmet pretzel truck up and running for the past two months.

“It's all pretzels and soup and the flat tire,” King said.

Business for the couple has been good, but, less than a month ago, it wasn't so easy for food trucks across the city to even operate.

“There's a lot to worry about in the food truck business,” King said.

Before August 12, the city had to inspect food trucks any time they appeared at a special event.

That meant a new permit each time.

“So if they were working five events in one weekend, they were paying the $29 five times,” Oklahoma City Licensing Supervisor, Meagan Armstrong said.

On average, a food truck vendor would pay out more than $1,000 a year on permitting alone.

“Hey, we need to reevaluate this," said Armstrong. "This is an old ordinance.”

“That's business. I mean, that's how we make our money," said King. "We got to have a permit. That's a big deal.”

The city doesn't even recall the last time the food truck ordinances were updated, until now.

“One of the big things is that they can get an unlimited license, which allows them to work on public right away, but also any event that they want on the unlimited,” Armstrong said.

“It shows that they're thinking about the importance of food trucks locally, and that it's becoming a big thing,” King said.

A yearly food truck permit is $250. There is also a $150 license that allows vendors to work on public right away.