Food trucks coming soon to Gulf Shores

By Melanie LeCroy
Posted 12/18/19

Gulf Shores City Council and Mayor Robert Craft voted unanimously in favor of a 365-day food truck pilot program at the final council meeting of the year on Dec. 9.

The purpose of the pilot …

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Food trucks coming soon to Gulf Shores

Posted

Gulf Shores City Council and Mayor Robert Craft voted unanimously in favor of a 365-day food truck pilot program at the final council meeting of the year on Dec. 9.

The purpose of the pilot program is to introduce food trucks and food trailers within the City of Gulf Shores on a limited basis to provide the city with data to determine if they are appropriate in Gulf Shores.

If you are hoping to be one of the food trucks in the program you will need to act quick as there are only 10 permits available although the council agreed the number could be increased at a later date if there is a demand.

Residents, food truck owners and restaurant owners in attendance questioned the reduction in the number of permits from 15 in the initial presentation to 10. The council felt that 10 was a more manageable number to monitor and inspect.

To acquire a mobile food unit permit you will first need to be in possession of a food truck and meet the following criteria to apply:

1. MFU’s are required to obtain a valid Mobile Food Service permit to operate within Baldwin County from the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) before applying for a City of Gulf Shores Mobile Food Unit operating permit or business license.

2. MFU’s must be registered by the Alabama Department of Motor Vehicles or the state in which the MFU is licensed and have a valid license plate affixed to the vehicle.

3. MFU operators are required to have a current City of Gulf Shores Business License.

4. MFU’s are required to obtain a Business License and Mobile Food Unit Operating Permit from the City of Gulf Shores before commencing operations on private parcels within the city. MFU operators may not apply for city licenses/permits until all other licenses/permits are issued.

Food trucks cannot park in city parking lots or along the street. Owners will need to find existing businesses with bathroom facilities that will allow the food trucks to set up on their property. A site plan will then have to be submitted to the city for approval. Trucks can only operate during the existing businesses posted operating hours.

It has been over two years since the initial mention of an ordinance allowing food trucks to operate in the city. The large number in attendance in favor of food trucks applauded when the city voted in favor.