Title
Mobile Food Service Vendors' Signage - For the purpose of establishing sign requirements for Mobile Food Service Vendors, known as food trucks; and generally dealing with Peddlers, Hawkers and Itinerant Merchants operating restrictions.
Body
CITY COUNCIL OF THE
City of Annapolis
Ordinance 31-24
Introduced by: Alderman Savidge
Referred to:
Economic Matters Committee
AN ORDINANCE concerning
Mobile Food Service Vendors' Signage
FOR the purpose of establishing sign requirements for Mobile Food Service Vendors, known as food trucks; and generally dealing with Peddlers, Hawkers and Itinerant Merchants operating restrictions.
BY repealing and reenacting with amendments the following portions of the Code of the City of Annapolis, 2024 Edition
7.40.090
SECTION I: BE IT ESTABLISHED AND ORDAINED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that the Code of the City of Annapolis shall be amended to read as follows:
Title 21 - PLANNING AND ZONING
Division V - Regulations of General Applicability
Chapter 21.70 Sign Regulations
Section 21.70.020 Applicability.
No signs except signs exempted by this chapter may be erected unless a sign permit has been issued by the Director of Planning and Zoning pursuant to Chapter 17.60.
A. No signs may be erected unless a sign permit has been issued by the Director of Planning and Zoning pursuant to Chapter 17.60, except for signs exempted by this chapter.
B. This section does not apply to signs used by mobile food service vendors, also known as food trucks. Sign regulations for mobile food service vendors are located in the Mobile Food Service Vendors subsection of Title 7, § 7.40.090(B).
Title 7 - BUSINESS LICENSES, TAXES AND REGULATIONS
Chapter 7.40 - Peddlers, Hawkers and Itinerant Merchants
Section 7.40.090 - Areas of operation and operating restrictions.
B. Mobile Food Service Vendors (also known as "food trucks").
1. Historic District. Mobile food service vendors are allowed in the City's Historic District, as defined in § 21.56, only as part of a special event organized by the City per §14.18.
2. Outside the Historic District. In areas outside the Historic District, mobile food service vendor licensees may operate as follows:
a. On private property only with the express written permission of the:
i. Property owner, which permission shall include a starting and ending date;
ii. Authorized representative of any restaurant within 100 feet of the proposed food truck location; or
b. On public property pursuant to a validly issued permit or with the equivalent express written permission issued by the responsible City department.
4. Obstructing Access. Mobile food service vendor vehicles shall in no way block, obstruct, or impede any public right of way or access to it, including vehicular, bicycle or pedestrian flow on the public right of way, nor obstruct or interfere with access to any public or private fire hydrant or any building's fire department connection.
5. Noise and Air Pollution.
1. Mobile food service vendor music or other noise shall not exceed 65 decibels as measured from 50 feet away.
2. Mobile food service vendors shall not use gas, diesel or other fossil fuel-powered generators as their primary energy source. They shall only be used as emergency backup systems.
6. Trash. A licensee shall collect and properly dispose of all trash and debris generated by mobile food service activities of the licensee.
7. Signs. Mobile food service vendor signs shall meet the following requirements.
a. Signs on Mobile Food Service Vehicles (Food Trucks).
i. All signage pertaining to or advertising a mobile food service vehicle and/or its menu shall be attached to the vehicle.
ii. No part of a sign attached to a mobile food service vehicle shall extend more than 18 inches from the vehicle.
iii. A mobile food service vehicle shall not be outfitted with a "changeable electronic variable message sign" or "prohibited sign" as set forth in subsection c (below).
b. Sight Visibility. No sign shall obstruct a clear view to and from traffic along any street right-of-way, entrance or exit.
c. Prohibited Signs.
i. animated signs;
ii. billboards;
iii. flashing signs;
iv. rotating signs;
v. snipe signs (non-governmental signs attached to trees or poles); and
iv. signage containing profanity or lewd or obscene images.
SECTION II: AND BE IT FURTHER ESTABLISHED AND ORDAINED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that this ordinance shall take effect upon passage.