A variety of taco trucks, burger trucks, and other mobile food vendors will likely start appearing on Alameda streets. As of February 6, 2012 food truck vendors have clear regulations for operating in the City of Alameda, whether on city streets or at five designated off-street locations: Alameda Point, the College of Alameda, South Shore Shopping Center, Harbor Bay Business Park, and Marina Village Business Park.

Alameda currently has a few food trucks that park near City Hall, at the ferry stations or at sports games at Alameda Point. Those trucks follow state vehicle and traffic laws - the new ordinance gives more local control over when, where and how the trucks can operate.

The recently adopted food truck ordinance is aimed at establishing local regulatory control for health and safety reasons and to level the playing field between food trucks and traditional restaurants. Food trucks now must obtain a local business license, an encroachment permit for on-street activity, or a conditional use permit for off-street activity. Trucks must park at least 50 feet from crosswalks and 25 feet from driveways. In addition, vendors must pay taxes consistent to those of a restaurant, and comply with health and safety restrictions.

“There is a new generation of food trucks offering exciting and innovative menus,” said Mayor Marie Gilmore. “They have the ability to attract people and add to the activities at Alameda Point or elsewhere in the City where there may not be many, on-the-spot eating options. This is a reasonable start for the City to regulate food trucks.”

“We expect this to help revitalize under-used or under-served areas and to address the lack of food establishments in certain locales,” said Lori Taylor, the City’s Community Development Director.

Eric Fonstein from the City's Business Attraction and Retention Division says that the City does not know how big the demand will be for new food truck permits, which are also available to food truck owners from outside of Alameda.

When asked what restaurant owners are saying about the new permits, Fonstein stated that, “We work very closely with restaurant businesses and they did not have an issue with the idea.”

Fonstein explained that the minimum business license fee is currently $79 per year and that the actual fee for a particular food truck will depend upon the gross receipts of the business. The business license fee is in addition to the conditional use permit and encroachment permits.

The complete list of food truck guidelines is posted on the City of Alameda’s website.