HomeMy WebLinkAboutProposed Ordinance - 5/7/20261
Project Title: Mobile Business Amendments
Petition No: PLNPCM2023-00938
Version: Transmitted
Date Prepared: 4/7/26
Planning Commission Recommendation: Approval 6/12/2024
The proposed ordinance makes the following amendments (for summary purposes only):
Amends Title 21A to comply with legislative changes to Utah State Code Section 11-56
regarding mobile businesses
Deletes the words “mobile food business, mobile food courts, and vending carts” and replaces
them with the words “mobile business.”
Amends Section 21A.36.160 to allow mobile businesses in zones that permit the “restaurant” land
use.
Deletes Section 21A.36.161 because mobile food courts are now defined as a “mobile business”
and are therefore regulated by Chapter 21A.36.160.
Amends Chapter 21A.62.040 to consolidate the “mobile food business, mobile food court, mobile
food trailer, mobile food truck, and vending cart” definitions into one “mobile business”
definition.
Underlined text is new; text with a strikethrough is proposed to be deleted. The highlighted text reflects
recent direction provided by the City Council at a Work Session. All other text is existing with no
proposed change.
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1. Amends Section 21A.33.040 Table of Permitted and Conditional Uses for Manufacturing Districts only 2
as to the following four uses, with no other changes to the table, as follows: 3
4
Use
Permitted and Conditional Uses By District
M-1 M-2 M-1A
Mobile food business (operation in the
public right-of-way) P P P
Mobile food business (operation on private
property) P P P
Mobile food court P P P
APPROVED AS TO FORM
Salt Lake City Attorney’s Office
Date: ____April 20, 2026___________
By: ____________________________
Katherine D. Pasker, Senior City Attorney
2
Vending cart, private property P P P
5
6
2. Amends Section 21A.33.050 Table of Permitted and Conditional Uses for Downtown Districts only as 7
to the following five uses, with no other changes to the table, as follows: 8
9
10
Use Permitted And Conditional Uses By District
D-1 D-2 D-3 D-4
Mobile food business
(operation in the public
right-of- way)
P P P P
Mobile food business
(operation on private
property)
P P P P
Mobile food court P P P P
Vending cart, private
property P P P P
Vending cart, public
property
11
12
3. Amends Section 21A.33.060 Table of Permitted and Conditional Uses in the Gateway District only as 13
to the following five uses, with no other changes to the table, as follows: 14
15
Use G-MU
Mobile food business (operation in the
public right-of-way) P
Mobile food business (operation on
private property) P
Mobile food court P
Vending cart, private property P
Vending cart, public property P
16
17
4. Amends Section 21A.33.070 Table of Permitted and Conditional Uses for Special Purpose Districts 18
only as to the following two uses, with no other changes to the table, as follows:19
3
20
Use
Permitted And Conditional Uses By District
RP BP FP AG AG-
2
AG-
5
AG-
20 OS NOS A PL PL-
2 I UI MH EI
Vending cart,
private property P P
Vending cart, public
property
P
21
4
22
5. Amends Section 21A.36.160 as follows: 23
24
21A.36.160: MOBILE BUSINESSES: 25
26
A. Mobile Food Business Allowed: A mobile business is permitted as indicated in this Section. 27
28
1. Public Rights of Way: Mobile businesses located in a right of way shall comply with Title 5, 29
Chapters 5.65 and 5.69. Persons selling food or beverages from mobile food businesses may do 30
so by use of private property only, unless otherwise permitted under title 5, chapter 5.69 of this 31
Code. Use of private property by mobile food businesses shall be arranged with the real property 32
owner and proof of such property owner authorization shall be required prior to the issuance of a 33
business license. 34
35
2. Private Property: Mobile food businesses shall be permitted on private property when: are 36
allowed only within the SNB, CN, CB, CS, CC, CSHBD, CG, TSA, M-1, M-2, D-1, D-2, D-3, D-37
4, G-MU, RP, BP, UI, MH, MU, R-MU, R-MU-35, and R-MU-45 Zones, in accordance with the 38
provisions of this section 39
a. the use is listed as permitted in the land use tables found in 21A.33. 40
b. the property is located on government-owned property and the government entity has 41
authorized the mobile business to operate on the property. 42
c. the mobile business is associated with a special event or temporary use located in any 43
zoning district and is less than 12 hours in duration. 44
d. the mobile business is associated with a public event located in any zoning district that has 45
been authorized by the city, including when the private property is within ¼ mile of a public 46
event held on a public right of way. 47
48
3. Provisions found in this section shall not apply to vending carts, mobile ice cream vendors, 49
seasonal farm stands and other temporary merchants or uses that are specifically authorized by 50
this title or other City ordinances. 51
52
4. Limitations on vending carts: Nonmotorized mobile pushcarts may only prepare and sell food, 53
beverages, or similar items. 54
55
B. Business License Aand Fees Required: No mobile food business shall continue in operation 56
unless the holder thereof has paid an annual business regulatory fee and has met all applicable 57
requirements as set forth in section 5.04.070 of this Code, or its successor section for each mobile 58
food business. A business license is required for the operation of a mobile business as set forth in 59
Title 5, Chapters 5.65 and 5.69. 60
61
C. Separate Applications: Separate business license applications may be required for each mobile 62
food business. Separate business license fees shall be required for each mobile food business vehicle 63
operating under one business license. 64
65
D. Business Activity Tto Bbe Temporary: All business activity related to mobile food businesses 66
shall be of a temporary nature subject to the requirements below: 67
68
1. A mobile food truck business may not park in one individual location for the purpose of 69
conducting business for more than twelve (12) hours during any twenty four (24) hour period. 70
71
2. The mobile food truck shall be occupied by the owner or operator thereof at all times. 72
73
3. No overnight parking is allowed. 74
75
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D. E. Location Aand Placement Requirements: The business operating location must be on private 76
property, on City streets as defined in title 5, chapter 5.69 of this Code, within the specified zones, or 77
as otherwise authorized by applicable City ordinance, subject to the requirements below: A mobile 78
business shall: 79
80
1. Only access a property using driveways and park on surfaces that comply with the standards 81
for surfacing in the Off Street Parking Standards Manual; Parking on a park strip, or otherwise 82
landscaped area is not allowed. 83
84
2. Park in legally established parking areas or areas that allow vehicular staging. Parking shall not 85
be allowed when blocking traffic, such as on a sidewalk, driveway, trail, or other pedestrian way 86
open to the public, and when creating a dangerous situation, including within a sight distance 87
triangle, a fire zone, or near a fire hydrant. Exceptions to this provision may be approved as part 88
of a special event permit authorized by the city; and A mobile food business shall park on a hard 89
surface. Alternatives to asphalt and cement may be approved by the transportation engineer if the 90
applicant is able to demonstrate that the alternative will not result in the accumulation of debris 91
on the City right-of-way. 92
93
3. Not obstruct pedestrian, bicycle, or vehicle access to any land use, including properties that 94
contain multiple land uses or businesses. Mobile food business vehicles must be parked so that 95
neither the vehicle nor the customers block driveways of existing buildings or uses, or in such a 96
manner as to create a traffic hazard. 97
98
4. No mobile food business shall occupy required parking stalls of the primary use. 99
100
5. No mobile food business shall interfere with the internal parking lot circulation. 101
102
6. Mobile food businesses shall not use the public right-of-way unless otherwise allowed by 103
ordinance. 104
105
7. Any auxiliary power required for the operation of the mobile food truck shall be self-106
contained. No use of public or private power sources are allowed without providing written 107
consent from the owner. 108
109
E. 8. Unless licensed prior to January 1, 2013, aA parked mobile food business shall conform to all 110
requirements in the Salt Lake City vehicle idling ordinances (tTitle 12, cChapter 12.58 of this Code). 111
112
F. 9. All materials generated from a mobile food business that are to be disposed of should shall be 113
disposed of properly. It is illegal to discharge or dispose of any substance, material, food, or waste 114
into the storm drain system. (Sections 17.84.100, prohibition of discharge into storm drain system; 115
17.36.220, prohibition against opening manhole covers, of this Code.) 116
117
G. 10. Mobile food businesses shall comply with all other applicable City ordinances. 118
Provisions found in this section shall not apply to downtown vendors, vending carts, mobile ice 119
cream vendors, seasonal farm stands and other temporary merchants or uses that are specifically 120
authorized by this title or other City ordinances. 121
122
H. F. Design Aand Operation Guidelines: Mobile food trucks operating in the public right-of-way 123
shall comply with the following design requirements: 124
125
1. Mobile food truck vehicles businesses that include the handling and distribution of food shall 126
obtain approval from the Salt Lake Valley Health Department. shall be designed to meet all 127
applicable Salt Lake Valley Health Department requirements relating to the handling and 128
distribution of food. 129
130
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2. The mobile food truck business shall not have a drive-through. 131
132
3. Mobile food truck vVehicles shall be kept in good operating condition, no peeling paint or 133
rust shall be visible. 134
135
4. No mobile food truck vehicle operating in the public right-of- way shall operate within the 136
same block face as another mobile food vendor at any one time. 137
138
5. No mobile food truck vehicle shall operate within one hundred feet (100') on the same linear 139
block face of a door to a restaurant, mobile food vendor, food cart, or City authorized special 140
event selling food, except: 141
142
a. The above requirement may be waived if the application is submitted with the written 143
consent of the proprietor of such restaurant or shop. The consent shall be on forms deemed 144
appropriate by the Business License Administrator. Such waiver shall not exempt the 145
applicant from compliance with the other location and distance restrictions of this section. 146
147
4 6. All grounds utilized by a mobile food business shall at all times be maintained in a clean 148
and attractive condition at all times. 149
150
5. 7. Trash and recycling containers shall be provided for the use of the business patrons. 151
152
8. Mobile food businesses shall source local products when available. 153
154
9. Any enclosures or canopy extensions must be integrated into the design of the mobile food 155
business vehicle and must not project onto the public sidewalk or any other part of the public 156
right-of-way not authorized by the Transportation Division. 157
158
I G. Signs: No signs shall be used to advertise the conduct of a mobile food business at the premises 159
other than that which is physically attached to the self-contained business, except temporary signs 160
authorized by Ssection 21A.46.055 of this title. 161
162
H. Professional And Personal Services Prohibited: The performance of professional or personal 163
services for sale shall not be provided from a mobile food business. 164
165
I. Approved Kitchen: If the mobile food business includes an area for food preparation and/or sale, it 166
must be approved by the Salt Lake Valley Health Department. 167
168
J. Multiple Mobile Businesses on a Property: Multiple mobile businesses may be located on the same 169
property and at the same time. 170
171
172
6. Section 21A.36.161 is hereby repealed in its entirety: 173
174
21A.36.161: MOBILE FOOD COURTS: 175
A. Mobile Food Courts A Conditional Use: 176
1. Operating a mobile food court is unlawful without first obtaining conditional use approval subject 177
to the qualifying provisions written below as well as those in chapter 21A.54 of this title. 178
2. Mobile food courts are allowed by administrative conditional use approval only within the M-1, 179
M-2, D-1, D-2, D-3, D-4, G-MU, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. 180
3. Provisions found in this section shall apply to mobile food businesses, vending carts, and seasonal 181
farm stands that are specifically authorized by this title or other City ordinances. 182
B. Qualifying Provisions: 183
1. A mobile food court is required to be on a parcel of at least two thousand (2,000) square feet in 184
size. 185
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2. No less than two (2) and no more than ten (10) individual mobile food businesses or other 186
authorized vendors are allowed on a parcel. 187
3. No participating mobile food business or other authorized vendor shall continue in operation at the 188
mobile food court unless the holder thereof has paid an annual business regulatory fee as set forth in 189
section 5.04.070 of this Code, or its successor section. 190
4. All requirements of chapter 21A.48, "Landscaping And Buffers", of this title and section 191
21A.36.020, "Conformance With Lot And Bulk Controls", of this chapter, or their successor chapter or 192
section shall be met prior to the issuance of a permit. 193
5. Mobile food courts are for the sale of food products only. Retail sale of nonfood items is not 194
permitted. 195
6. A master sign plan for the mobile food court shall be submitted for review and approval as part of 196
the conditional use process. The plan shall provide information relating to permanent signs for the court, 197
as well as individual signs for each business. 198
7. All the proposed activities will be conducted on private property owned or otherwise controlled by 199
the applicant and none of the activities will occur on any public right-of-way. 200
8. The proposed mobile food court will not impede pedestrian or vehicular traffic in the public way. 201
9. The proposed mobile food court complies with all conditions pertaining to any existing variances, 202
conditional uses or other approvals granted for the property. 203
10. All activities associated with a mobile food court must comply with all Salt Lake Valley Health 204
Department requirements. 205
11. A detailed site plan demonstrating the following is required: 206
a. The location and orientation of each vendor pad. 207
b. The location of any paving, trash enclosures, landscaping, planters, fencing, canopies, umbrellas 208
or other table covers, barriers or any other site requirement by the International Building Code, or Health 209
Department. 210
c. The location of all existing and proposed activities on site. 211
d. The circulation of all pedestrian and vehicle traffic on the site. 212
e. The mobile food court shall not occupy required parking stalls of any primary use of the site. 213
12. Live music will not be performed nor loudspeakers played in the mobile food court area unless 214
the decibel level is within conformance with the Salt Lake City noise control ordinance, title 9, chapter 215
9.28 of this Code. 216
13. Hard surface paving at the vehicular entrance to the mobile food court, and for each individual 217
mobile food business is required. Alternatives to asphalt and cement may be approved as part of the 218
conditional use process if the applicant is able to demonstrate that the alternative will not result in the 219
accumulation of mud or debris on the city right-of-way. 220
221
222
7. Amends Section 21A.42.020 as follows: 223
224
21A.42.020: APPLICABILITY: 225
226
This chapter regulates temporary uses not otherwise regulated by tTitle 3, cChapter 3.50 of this 227
Code. Mobile businesses Food trucks and trailers are subject to cChapter 21A.36 of this title if on private 228
property or tTitle 5, chapter 5.69 of this Code if on public property. Art festivals, neighborhood fairs and 229
other similar activities, authorized by other City regulations to operate on public property or within the 230
public way, are not subject to the provisions of this chapter. 231
232
233
8. Amends Subsection 21A.42.060.A as follows: 234
235
A. Application: An application shall be submitted to the Zzoning Aadministrator. Every application 236
for a temporary use permit shall include a site plan and a traffic plan listing the date, time, location, 237
anticipated attendance, anticipated access routes, ingress and egress for emergency vehicles, and available 238
parking in the vicinity. The application shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator at least thirty (30) 239
calendar days before the scheduled date that the temporary event or use is to take place unless the 240
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Zzoning Aadministrator approves a shorter application deadline. The application shall include: 241
1. A site plan; 242
2. A traffic plan listing the date, time, location, anticipated attendance, anticipated access routes, 243
ingress and egress for emergency vehicles, and available parking in the vicinity; and 244
3. A plan for cleaning and associated wastewater disposal showing that all materials generated 245
from the temporary use are properly disposed, in accordance with Title 17 of this code. 246
247
248
9. Amends Subsection 21A.42.080.D as follows: 249
250
D. Temporary Food Service Aand Oother Small Scale Temporary Uses: Temporary food service and 251
other small scale temporary uses are permitted for a maximum of one hundred twenty (120) days each 252
calendar year. Such facilities shall be less than two hundred (200) square feet and shall not interfere with 253
pedestrian access to other businesses on the site. Food trucks and trailers Mobile businesses are subject 254
to cChapter 21A.36 of this title if on private property or tTitle 5, cChapter 5.69 of this Code if on public 255
property. 256
257
258
10. Amends Section 21A.62.040, only as to the following five definitions, as follows: 259
260
a. MOBILE FOOD BUSINESS: A business that serves food or beverages from a self-contained unit 261
maintains ongoing mobility and is either motorized, or in a trailer on wheels, or a cart pushed by a vendor, 262
and conducts all or part of its operations on premises other than its own and is readily movable, without 263
disassembling, for transport to another location. The term "mobile food business" shall not include 264
vending carts or mobile ice cream vendors. 265
266
b. MOBILE FOOD COURT: A parcel of land where two (2) or more mobile food businesses 267
congregate to offer food or beverages for sale to the public. Any cluster of more than one mobile food 268
business, vending cart and seasonal farm stand, located on the same parcel of land shall be considered a 269
mobile food court. 270
271
c. MOBILE FOOD TRAILER: A mobile food business that serves food or beverages from a 272
nonmotorized vehicle that is normally pulled behind a motorized vehicle. The term "mobile food trailer" 273
shall not include vending carts, mobile food trucks or mobile ice cream vendors. 274
275
d. MOBILE FOOD TRUCK: A mobile food business that serves food or beverages from an 276
enclosed self-contained motorized vehicle. The term "mobile food truck" shall not include vending carts, 277
mobile food trailers or mobile ice cream vendors. 278
279
e. VENDING CART: Includes any nonmotorized mobile device or pushcart from which limited 280
types of products, as listed in title 5, chapter 5.65 of this code, are sold or offered for sale directly to any 281
consumer, where the point of sale is conducted at the cart, where the duration of the sale is longer than 282
fourteen (14) days and where the vending cart meets the requirements of title 5, chapter 5.65 of this code 283
for the conducting of business in a specified permit operating area approved by the city. 284
285
286
11. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately after it has been published in 287
accordance with Utah Code § 10-3-711 and recorded in accordance with Utah Code § 10-3-713. 288
289
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