New Ordinance for Mobile Food Vendors Takes Effect April 25

A new City of Cape Coral ordinance for Mobile Food Vendors goes into effect tomorrow, April 25.

Ordinance 89-22, approved by City Council in January, establishes basic health and safety regulations for MFVs, requires their operation to stay mobile, and stipulates they be treated alike, with the exception of ice cream trucks in some situations.

The Ordinance determines in which zoning districts food trucks are and are not allowed to operate, and it stipulates that food trucks must:

• Move their vehicle, equipment, and accessories at the end of the night. 
• Display hours, MFDV license, and notarized permission from the location's property owner.
• Draw power from a portable generator or temporary connection to fixed electrical service point.
• Park on an approved impervious surface (e.g., not on grass).
• Keep all vending operation items inside the vehicle.
• Provide a trash can, and keep the area clean.
• Self-contain and properly dispose of liquid waste and grease.
• Not provide seating, tables, or furniture. 
• Not use permanent water or wastewater connections. 
• Not block pedestrian, bicycle, or motorized traffic. 
• Not park on required off-street parking or handicapped parking spaces. 
• Not set up in a street right-of-way or right-of-way easement (except ice cream trucks). 
• Not sell alcohol. 

Food trucks participating in a special event or operating in a declared state of emergency are exempt from some of these regulations.

Cape Coral's ordinance was drafted to mirror Lee County Ordinance 22-01, which took effect in January 2022, using definitions and code requirements adapted from the County’s Code. Prior to the adoption of this ordinance, there were no operational standards in place for food trucks in Cape Coral.