3045 Food Truck Regulations ORDINANCE NO. 3045
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MOSES LAKE, WASHINGTON,
AMENDING CHAPTER 5.07 OF THE MOSES LAKE MUNICIPAL
CODE TITLED “MOBILE FOOD VENDORS AND STREET FOOD VENDORS”
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOSES LAKE DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1.Chapter 5.07 of the Moses Lake Municipal Code titled “Mobile Food
Vendors and Street Food Vendors” is amended as follows:
Chapter 5.07
MOBILE FOOD VENDORS, FOOD COURTS, AND STREET FOOD VENDORS
Sections:
5.07.010 License Required.
5.07.020 Definitions.
5.07.030 Exemptions.
5.07.040 Mobile Food Vendor Application.
5.07.045 Food Court Vendor Application
5.07.050 Investigation and Determination.
5.07.060 Fees.
5.07.070 Exhibiting of License/Transfer.
5.07.080 Compliance with Regulations.
5.07.090 Mobile Food and Street Food Vendor and Food Court Standards.
5.07.100 Revocation or Denial of License.
5.07.110 Appeal.
5.07.120 Penalty.
5.07.130 Duty of Finance Department to Enforce.
5.07.140 General Fund.
5.07.150 Fees Collected by Court.
Document Ref: WAQAV-ZJFIK-MM7XT-MREJ5 Page 1 of 15
5.07.010 License Required:
It shall be unlawful for a mobile food or street food vendor to engage in business within the City
of Moses Lake except when licensed as a mobile or street vendor as defined in this chapter. The
license required by this chapter is in addition to the business license provided for by Chapter
5.04, if it is also required.
5.07.020 Definitions:
The following terms and definitions shall be used in the administration of this chapter:
A. “Mobile food vendor” shall mean any person, firm, or corporation, whether as owner, agent,
consignee, or employee, whether a resident of the City or not, who engages in a business of
selling and delivering food from a vehicle or other motorized conveyance upon privately or
publicly owned property including any public street, sidewalk, alley, or public way of the City. A
person, firm, or corporation so engaged shall not be relieved from complying with the provisions
of this chapter merely by reason of associating temporarily with any local dealer, trader,
merchant, or auctioneer, or by conducting such temporary business in connection with, as part
of, or in the name of any local dealer, trader, merchant, or auctioneer.
B. “Food” shall have its usual and ordinary meaning, and shall include all items designed for
human consumption, including, but not limited to, candy, gum, popcorn, hot dogs, sandwiches,
peanuts, soft drinks, frozen concessions, nonalcoholic beverages, and dairy products. Products
regulated by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board may not be sold by mobile or
street vendors.
C. “Authorized concession stand” shall mean a concession stand operated or maintained for
the sale of food or merchandise, in the public parks of the City, or on other public property, by
the City or in accordance with a City-approved agreement or franchise.
D. “Public celebration” shall mean the Spring Festival activities customarily celebrated in and
around McCosh Park and other areas of the City, as well as any other time of public celebration.
E. “Special event” shall mean an event for which the City has authorized use of City facilities for
use by vendors, such as the Farmers Market.
F. “Street food vendor” shall mean a vendor, including any owner and employee, selling food
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within a public or private parking lot, pedestrian plaza, public street, alley, sidewalk, public right-
of-way, or public property, using a nonmotorized cart or temporary structure.
G. “Food Court” shall mean one location (parking lot, plaza, or lot) where three or more street
food vendors operate within a defined space that has been designed to accommodate multiple
food vendors on a permanent basis. The site offers permanent utility connections, paved parking
and restrooms for patrons.
H. A “tent”, for the purposes of this section, shall be defined as a structure, enclosure, canopy
or shelter, with or without sidewalls or drops, constructed of fabric or pliable material supported
by any manner except by air or the contents that it protects, and which meets the flame
propagation performance treatment set forth in Section 3104.2 of the International Fire Code
(test method 1 or 2 of NFPA 701), CPAI 84, or California Fire Marshal Seal.
5.07.030 Exemptions:
The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed to apply to the following:
A. Persons selling only fruits, vegetables, berries, eggs, or any farm produce, pursuant to RCW
36.71.090.
B. Persons required to obtain a business license under Chapter 5.04.
B. Limited special event vending: Mobile food vendors and street food vendors may vend
from a zone approved for mobile food vending and are exempt from the permitting
requirements of this Chapter but must have and maintain all other licenses and approvals
necessary to lawfully operate as a mobile food or street food vendor in Moses Lake. Limited
special event vending cannot remain at a location for longer than the duration of the special
event and while there must be located so as to avoid creating conflicts with pedestrian or motor
vehicle traffic or creating other public safety problems. The owner of the property where an
event such as a community event, special event approved by the City, a neighborhood block
party, wedding, birthday party, grand opening, or similar event, must have invited the mobile
food or street food vendor to participate and such vending is part of the event activities.
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5.07.040 Mobile Food Vendor Application:
Any person, firm, or corporation desiring to secure a license as a mobile food or street food
vendor shall make application to the City, on forms to be provided by the City, at least fourteen
(14) twenty-one (21) days before the requested start date of the business. Such mobile food or
street food vendor application shall provide:
A. The name or names and address of the applicant, vehicle license numbers of all vehicles or a
description of the conveyance from which the applicant proposes to conduct business;
description of the general type of food proposed to be sold by the applicant.
B. Each mobile food vendor application shall be accompanied with the license fee as provided
for in this chapter. the currently adopted fee schedule.
C. Each license application for a mobile food or street food vendor shall be accompanied with
the following information to establish compliance with this chapter and other applicable codes:
1. A statement explaining the method of trash and litter disposal being proposed by the
vendor and/or signed agreement from the property owner to utilize their garbage.
2. 1. Washington State tax number Unified Business Identifier (UBI).
2. Copy of approved Operations Permit from the Moses Lake Fire Department, as
applicable (for instance for operators with grease-laden vapors, etc.), which must be
renewed annually. Requirements for such a permit are found in the most recently adopted
Washington State Adopted and Amended Fire Code.
3. Site plan of where unit will be located (if applicable), as it pertains to existing
buildings, parking and exits, will be provided for each operating location within City
limits.
3. The mobile food vendor must obtain a signed agreement between the property owner,
or legal agent, and the mobile food vendor allowing use of the property for the mobile food
business. This shall include written permission from the property owner for employees of
the mobile food vendor to use the property owner’s restroom.
4. Vendors must have access to restrooms with warm water under pressure and be
open/accessible during all hours of operations. If seating is provided restrooms must also be
accessible to customers. Portable restrooms are not permitted.
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4. Food handler’s permit (if applicable).
1.5. A statement explaining the method of trash and litter disposal being proposed by the
vendor and/or signed agreement from the property owner to utilize their garbage.
3.6. Site plan of where unit will be located (if applicable), as it pertains to existing buildings,
parking and exits, will be provided for each operating location within City limits.
a. A mobile food or street food vendor shall not be located within five feet (5') from the
outside edge of the public right-of-way. The setback requirement applies to all vehicle
appurtenances, on or in the vehicle, including but not limited to tanks, generators,
awnings, tents, etc.
b. Site distance triangles shall be observed. The site triangle shall be formed by
measuring from the intersection of the extended curb line or the traveled right-of-way (if
no curbs exist) of the adjacent street, to a distance of fifty feet (50') from the corner
point. The third side of the triangle is the straight line connecting the two (2) fifty foot
(50') sides. Within the area comprising the triangle, no fence, shrub, or other physical
obstruction higher than thirty-six inches (36") above the established street grade shall be
permitted.
c. The vending window shall be facing the interior of the lot, away from the public
right-of-way.
7. Copy of current Food Establishment Permit issued by the Grant County Health District,
which must be renewed annually,
5. Written authorization from the property owner to conduct business on their property (if
applicable) for each operating location.
8. Each food vendor shall be a self-contained unit and shall obtain an electrical permit and
inspection from L&I prior to operation.
9. Approval from Fire Department.
a. LPG (commonly referred to as propane tanks) or Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Gas
Containers shall adhere to the following requirements:
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(1)Maximum aggregate capacity shall not exceed 46 gallons for propane
(LPG), and no more than 1300 pounds for CNG (compressed natural gas).
The final maximum capacity shall be determined by the Fire Department
on a case by case basis.
(2)Gas containers shall be contained on, or within, the food vending unit.
10. Any tents used by the food vendor shall comply with the standards of MLMC
5.07.090(I).
5.07.045 Food Court Application:
Any person, firm, or corporation desiring to operate a “food court”, as defined in MLMC
5.07.020 shall request a pre-application meeting through the Community Development
Department prior to submission of a business license. Upon successful completion of the pre-
application meeting, such person, firm, or corporation shall make application to the City, on
forms to be provided by the City, at least twenty-one (21) days before the requested start date
of the business. Such food court application shall provide:
A. The name or names and address of the applicant, vehicle license numbers of all vehicles or a
description of the conveyance(s) from which the applicant proposes to conduct business;
description of the general type of food proposed to be sold by the applicant.
B. Each mobile food court application shall be accompanied with the application review fee as
currently adopted.
C. Each food court operations application shall be accompanied with the following information
to establish compliance with this chapter and other applicable codes:
1. Washington State Unified Business Identifier.
2. Copy of approved Operations Permit from the Moses Lake Fire Department for each
vendor proposing to locate on the site, as applicable (i.e. for operators with grease-laden
vapors, etc.). Requirements for such a permit shall comply with the most recently adopted
Washington State Adopted and Amended Fire Code.
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3. A site plan depicting the following:
a. Parcel lines and right-of-way lines.
b. The boundaries of the portion of the property to be used for the food court.
c. Location and dimensions of:
(1) Existing structures, vehicles, and signage on the site.
(2) Proposed vending stalls for the site.
(3) Tank locations for each food vendor unit, including dimensions.
(a) Setbacks shall adhere to the most recently adopted Washington State
Adopted and Amended Fire Code.
(b) Any protective bollards proposed for the site shall also be depicted.
(4) Accessory seating and tables.
(5) Permanent restroom facilities.
(6) Trash enclosure.
(7) Parking.
(a) Location of available parking spaces required for the food vendors shall
be depicted. The site plan must also demonstrate compliance with the
parking requirements for any primary use on the site.
d. Vehicle ingress and egress.
e. Utilities, including power, water, sewer, etc.
f. Lighting.
g. Landscaping, pursuant to most currently adopted development code of the Moses
Lake Municipal Code.
h. A tent may be included with each food vendor on the site and shall comply with the
requirements of MLMC 5.07.090(I).
Document Ref: WAQAV-ZJFIK-MM7XT-MREJ5 Page 7 of 15
4. Compliance with setback and distance requirements.
a. Food vendors within the food court shall not be located within five feet (5') from the
outside edge of the public right-of-way. The setback requirement applies to all vehicle
appurtenances, on or in the vehicle, including but not limited to tanks, generators,
awnings, tents, etc.
b. All vending windows within the food court shall face the interior of the food court,
and away from the public right-of-way.
c. There shall be at least ten (10) feet of separation between each food vending unit,
unless there is a neighboring vendor that includes a grease-laden vapor. In such case, the
distance between units shall be twenty (20) feet between units.
d. Sight distance triangles for the outer perimeter of the site shall be observed. The
sight triangle shall be formed by measuring from the intersection of the extended curb
line or the traveled right-of-way (if no curbs exist) of the adjacent street, to a distance of
fifty feet (50') from the corner point. The third side of the triangle is the straight line
connecting the two (2) fifty-foot (50') sides. Within the area comprising the triangle, no
fence, shrub, or other physical obstruction higher than thirty-six inches (36") above the
established street grade shall be permitted.
5. Approval from Fire Department (required for each individual vendor hook-up that utilizes
a separate source).
b. LPG (commonly referred to as propane tanks) or Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Gas
Containers shall adhere to the following requirements:
(1)Maximum aggregate capacity shall not exceed 46 gallons for propane
(LPG), and no more than 1300 pounds for CNG (compressed natural gas).
The final maximum capacity shall be determined by the Fire Department
on a case by case basis.
(2)Gas containers shall be contained on, or within, the food vending unit.
6. Permanent power shall be provided within the food court, with connections made
available to each individual food vending unit.
Document Ref: WAQAV-ZJFIK-MM7XT-MREJ5 Page 8 of 15
a. The property owner, property lessee, or their contractor, shall obtain a permit from
L&I and necessary inspections performed prior to operation of the food court.
7. It is the responsibility of the individual food vendors within the food court to obtain a
Food Establishment Permit from Grant County and to adhere to best practices for food
handling when undertaking food vendor activities involving the preparation and serving of
food.
8. Noise generated on site shall comply with currently-adopted noise ordinance of the
Moses Lake Municipal Code.
5.07.050 Investigation and Determination:
Upon receipt of such complete application, the Finance Department shall cause such
investigation of such person’s or persons’ business responsibility to be made as is deemed
necessary for the protection of the public good and shall refer the application to all City
departments for their determination as to compliance with standards and requirements of this
chapter. An application shall be denied by the Finance Department upon written findings that
the applicant’s business responsibility is unsatisfactory or that the proposed business activity will
violate any applicable law, rule, or regulation. Any license issued under this chapter shall contain
the number on the license, the date same was issued, the nature of the business authorized to
be carried on, the expiration date of said license, and the name or names of the person or
persons authorized to carry on the same. The Finance Department shall keep a record of all
licenses issued under this chapter and shall promptly provide the Washington State Department
of Revenue a record of any license issued under this chapter.
5.07.060 Fees:
The business license fee for a mobile food or street food vendor, and the application review fee
for a food court, shall be assessed in accordance with the adopted fee schedule for the year or
part thereof, payable in advance, for each vehicle, conveyance, or stand mobile food or street
food vendor.
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5.07.070 Exhibiting of License/Transfer:
A. Any license issued under this chapter shall be posted conspicuously upon all vehicles,
conveyances, or temporary structures from which a mobile food or street food vendor conducts
business.
B. Any license issued under this chapter shall not be transferred to any other person, firm, or
corporation.
5.07.080 Compliance with Regulations:
All food vendors shall comply with all laws, rules, and regulations regarding food handling, and
all vehicles, conveyances, and stands used for the sale of food shall comply with all applicable
laws, rules, and regulations respecting such vehicles, conveyances, or stands as established by
the Grant County Health District, the Washington State Motor Vehicle Code, Washington State
Adopted Fire Code, Washington State Adopted Building Code, as currently or hereafter
amended, and as set forth in the Moses Lake Municipal Code.
All mobile food and street food vendors are subject to periodic compliance inspections by the
City.
5.07.090 Mobile Food and Street Food Vendor and Food Court Standards:
All mobile and street vendors licensed under this chapter shall conform to the following
standards:
A. No mobile or street vendor shall operate from one (1) location in a residential zone as
defined in Title 18 for longer than fifteen (15) minutes at a time.
B. No mobile food or street food vendor shall locate his or her vehicle or conveyance in that
portion of public right-of-way abutting private property without the written permission of the
owner of the abutting private property. No food shall be offered, displayed, or sold, and no
customers served, in any vehicle travel lane. A temporary stand mobile food or street food
vendor shall not be located within twenty five feet (20' 5) from the outside edge of any public
Document Ref: WAQAV-ZJFIK-MM7XT-MREJ5 Page 10 of 15
right-of-way or within twenty feet (20') of the intersection of any public right-of-way and private
driveway.
C. No signs or signage shall be permitted other than that which can be contained on the vehicle
or conveyance utilized or as otherwise allowed.
D. No vehicle, other conveyance or temporary stand shall be located closer than twenty feet
(20') from any building or structure. The distance between any food vendor and other structures
on the site shall comply with the requirements of the International Fire Code, as currently
enacted or hereinafter amended.
E. No vehicle, mobile food, street food vendor, other conveyance or temporary stand shall
locate closer than fifty feet (50') from flammable combustible liquid or gas storage and
dispensing structures.
F. All mobile food and street food vendors shall have at least one (1) adequately sized and
properly secured garbage receptacle upon the site of business or on the vehicle or conveyance
for customer use.
G. Sites used by mobile food or street food vendors, or food courts shall be cleaned of all
debris, trash, and litter at the conclusion of daily business activities.
H. All vehicles, mobile food vendor, street food vendor, other conveyances, or temporary
stands shall be equipped with at least one (1) 2A-40 BC fire extinguisher approved by the Fire
Department, with an up-to-date annual inspection tag provided
I. All tents with dimensions larger than ten feet by ten feet must conform to labeling and
certification which shall be done in accordance with the currently adopted and amended state
fire code.
1. The tent shall be of vinyl, canvas, or similar durable material. All parts of such tent must
have a minimum of seven feet of vertical clearance to the ground.
2. All tents shall be anchored in accordance with requirements of the International Fire Code,
as currently adopted or hereinafter amended.
3. Cooking under tents shall conform with each of the following requirements:
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a. Any tent that is placed over any cooking apparatus, or near a heat source, shall be of
a flame-retardant material, and require approval from the fire department.
b. Tents with cooking devices are not allowed to be open to the public.
c. Cooking devices are not allowed to obstruct the exit access, exit or exit discharge.
d. Cooking devices located under tents with sidewalls shall have cooking devices
located a minimum of three feet from tent walls.
e. Cooking surfaces shall have a minimum vertical clearance of forty-two inches to tent
structure when the tent dimensions do not exceed ten feet by ten feet, and a minimum
vertical clearance of forty-eight inches when the tent dimensions exceed ten feet by ten
feet.
f. A minimum rated 2A-10BC fire extinguisher shall be located within each tent.
g. If grease-laden vapors are produced, a six-liter class K extinguisher shall be located
within the tent.
h. All compressed gas cylinders shall be restrained to prevent dislodging.
IJ. No mobile food or street food vendor shall sell or vend from his or her vehicle or
conveyance:
1. Within four hundred feet (400') of any public or private school grounds during the hours
of regular school session, classes, or school-related events in said public or private school,
except when authorized by said school.
2. Within one hundred fifty feet (150') of the entrance to any restaurant, cafe, or eating
establishment during business hours of the eating establishment, unless the eating
establishment has provided written permission to the vendor to locate closer. The vendor
shall produce the written permission for inspection if required to do so by any authorized
City official.
2. 3. Within three hundred feet (300') of any public park of the City where any City-
authorized concession stand is located during times other than during the course of a public
celebration except as approved by the Parks and Recreation Department of the City.
3. 4. Within three hundred feet (300') of any public park of the City where any City
Document Ref: WAQAV-ZJFIK-MM7XT-MREJ5 Page 12 of 15
authorized concession stand is located during the course of a public celebration when
nonprofit organizations are permitted to engage in the sale of merchandise and food in such
park.
4. 5. Within three hundred feet (300') of any public park or other public space during a
special event for which organizations are permitted to sell merchandise and/or food in the
park or public space for a fee, unless the mobile or street vendor obtains written permission
from the coordinator of the event.
JK. No mobile food or street food vendor shall conduct business so as to violate the traffic and
sidewalk ordinances of the City as now in effect or hereafter amended.
KL. No mobile food or street food vendor, acting solo or as part of a food court, shall obstruct
or cause to be obstructed the passage of any sidewalk, street, avenue, alley or any other public
place, by causing people to congregate at or near the place where goods, wares, food, or
merchandise of any kind is being sold or offered for sale.
L. All vehicles, other conveyances, or temporary stands shall be removed daily at the close of
business.
M. Generators shall not be operated from 10 pm to 6 am.
5.07.100 Revocation or Denial of License:
Any license pursuant to this chapter may be revoked or denied, in writing, by the Finance
Director for any of the following causes:
A. Any fraud, misrepresentation, or false statement contained in the application for license.
B. Any fraud, misrepresentation, or false statement made in connection with the selling of
products.
C. Any violation of this chapter.
D. Any violation with building or fire codes of the City.
E. Conducting the business licensed under this chapter in an unlawful manner or in such a
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manner as to constitute a breach of the peace or to constitute a menace to the health, safety, or
general welfare of the public.
5.07.110 Appeal:
Any person aggrieved by the denial of an application for a license or by the revocation of a
license as provided for in this chapter shall have the right to appeal to the City Council. Such
appeal shall be taken by filing with the Finance Director within fourteen (14) calendar days after
the notice of decision has been mailed, by certified mail, to the applicant’s or licensee’s last
known address, a written statement setting forth the grounds for the appeal. The City Council
shall set the time and place for hearing on such appeal and notice of such hearing shall be given
by certified mail to the appellant at least five (5) calendar days prior to the date fixed for such
hearing.
5.07.120 Penalty:
Failure to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter shall subject the violator to a C-6
penalty as defined in Chapter 1.08.
5.07.130 Duty of Finance Department to Enforce:
It shall be the duty of the Finance Department of the City of Moses Lake to enforce the
application and licensing provisions of this chapter against any person found to be violating the
same. It shall be the duty of any other Department to enforce violations of any permit issued by
that Department.
5.07.140 General Fund:
All funds received by the City under the terms of this chapter shall be paid into the General Fund
of the City and budgeted annually for any municipal purpose, as required by law
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5.07.150 Fees Collected by Court:
The City shall have the power to institute suit or action in any court of competent jurisdiction for
the purpose of collecting any license fees that are due and payable.
Section 2. Severability. If any section of this ordinance is found to be unconstitutional or invalid
as written or as applied to any particular person or circumstances, no other section of
the ordinance shall be deemed to be invalid, but rather, should be deemed to have
been enacted independently and without regard to the section affected.
Section 3. Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force five (5) days after its
passage and publication of its summary as provided by law.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Moses Lake, WA and signed by its Mayor on March
26, 2024.
________________________________________
Dustin Swartz, Mayor
ATTEST:
________________________________
Debbie Burke, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
__________________________________
Katherine L. Kenison, City Attorney
Martinez Swartz Myers Fancher Madewell Lombardi Skaug
Vote: Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye
Date Published: April 1, 2024
Date Effective: April 6, 2024
Document Ref: WAQAV-ZJFIK-MM7XT-MREJ5 Page 15 of 15
Signature Certificate
Reference number: WAQAV-ZJFIK-MM7XT-MREJ5
Document completed by all parties on:
01 Apr 2024 22:54:15 UTC
Page 1 of 1
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Katherine Kenison
Email: kkenison@basinlaw.com
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IP address: 173.209.171.7
Location: Moses Lake, United States
Mayor Dustin Swartz
Email: dswartz@cityofml.com
Shared via link
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Location: Mattawa, United States
Debbie Burke
Email: dburke@cityofml.com
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IP address: 63.135.54.162
Location: Moses Lake, United States
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