Food Trucks in the City of St. Louis
On January 28, Show-Me Institute Policy Analyst Avery Frank submits testimony to the City of St. Louis Special Committee on Reducing Red Tape regarding food truck regulation. Click here to read the full testimony.
Addendum:
TO THE HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE:
Since the submission of this testimony, a substitute version of Board Bill 14 has been introduced that places several restrictions on food truck operations. Specifically, the substitute:
- Establishes restrictions on where food trucks can operate by confining them to an expanded vending district, rather than originally eliminating vending districts
- Reintroduces a 100-foot restriction between food trucks and existing vendors selling comparable goods, whereas the buffer had initially been eliminated.
These changes diminish the bill’s effectiveness in reducing regulatory barriers for mobile food vendors. Expanding the vending zone and establishing a map of eligible locations does provide some relief. However, continuing to restrict food trucks to specific areas undermines their ability to serve customers where demand exists. Likewise, the reintroduction of a foot-buffer arbitrarily limits competition and consumer choice.
Board Bill 14 still represents a step forward in fostering a more business- and consumer-friendly environment, but these new provisions hinder the flexibility and innovation that make food trucks valuable contributors to St. Louis’s food scene. These changes should be reconsidered to ensure that the legislation truly supports entrepreneurs and consumers alike.
Avery Frank
February 5, 2025
