Revised Vendor Ordinance Approved in Bismarck

The city of Bismarck has approved a new vendor ordinance regarding where mobile food trucks can be situated.

This new ordinance comes as an amendment to an earlier proposal, which would have required vendors only operate between 5 p.m. and 2 a.m. -- such time constraints would have severely limited the types of business most vendors could have done.

Instead, food trucks will be restricted to designated alleys and parking lots within the city, but will be allowed more flexibility in their hours of operation.

Permits will be issued by the city engineering department to vendor applicants for $50 a year; vendors will also be allowed to operate out of privately-owned lots with the owner's permission, and as long as the establishment still meets health code standards.

To be allowed to operate, vendors must keep a minimum of $250,000 in general liability insurance on their establishments; they must also have up-to-date letters of inspection from the State Health Department. They cannot operate within 50 feet of a business without the tenant's permission.