HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 25-0012INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 25-0012
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
January 14, 2025
Page 1 of 3
SUBJECT: MOBILE VENDING UNIT OPERATIONS IN FORT WORTH
The purpose of this Informal Report is to provide information regarding operations of mobile
vending units within the City of Fort Worth.
Mobile Vending Units
Provisions for mobile vending units that serve food are contained in Chapter 16, Health and
Sanitation, of the City of Fort Worth Code of Ordinances. A mobile vending unit is a vehicle that is
designed to be readily moveable and from which merchandise or food is sold or served.
Locations of Mobile Vending Units
Information is provided below for the following five (5) locations:
1. Private Property
2. Public Property
3. Downtown Urban Design District
4. Proximity to Residential Uses
5. Operations in City Parks
Private Property
The operator of any mobile vendor unit that is stationary in one location for more than one hour is
required to obtain a Vendor Certificate of Occupancy (VCO). Issuance of the VCO is subject to
compliance with building code, electrical code, and zoning. The Code Compliance Department
enforces mobile vendor unit violations for operating in unauthorized locations or for failure to
obtain a VCO permit, when required.
The type of food that a mobile food vending unit provides determines the zoning district where it
is allowed to operate on private property.
Unit Type
Definition
Districts Allowed
A licensed mobile vending unit that
"E" Neighborhood Commercial; "FR"
sells nonhazardous, fresh fruits and
General Commercial Restricted; "F"
vegetables. Any product that is cut
General Commercial; "G" Intensive
and processed shall follow Division 4
Commercial; "H" Central Business;
Mobile Vendor
of the Health Code. No less than
"I" Light Industrial; "J" Medium
Fresh Market
75% of the products for sale shall be
Industrial; "K" Heavy Industrial; "AG"
produce and any additional product
Agricultural; "CF" Community
shall be nonhazardous, packaged
Facilities; "MU" Mixed Use Districts;
food.
and "NS" Near Southside
Vendor, food, non-
Non -potentially hazardous foods are
"ER" Neighborhood Commercial
potentially
foods that don't support the growth of
Restricted; "E" Neighborhood
hazardous food
disease -causing bacteria and don't
Commercial; "FR" General
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 25-0012
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
January 14, 2025
Page 2 of 3
SUBJECT: MOBILE VENDING UNIT OPERATIONS IN FORT WORTH
require time and temperature control
Commercial Restricted; "F" General
to limit pathogen growth. Examples of
Commercial; "G" Intensive
non -potentially hazardous foods
Commercial; "H" Central Business;
include: dry goods, dry cereals,
"I" Light Industrial; "J" Medium
dehydrated and un-reconstituted
Industrial; "K" Heavy Industrial; "AG"
foods, candy bars, popcorn, potato
Agricultural; "CF" Community
chips, canned sodas, pretzels, snow
Facilities; "MU" Mixed Use Districts;
cones, and cotton candy
"NS" Near Southside
Potentially hazardous foods include
"FR" General Commercial
foods that contain milk, eggs, meat,
Restricted; "F" General Commercial;
poultry, rice, fish, shellfish, or other
"G" Intensive Commercial; "H"
ingredients that can support rapid
Central Business; "I" Light Industrial;
Vendor, food,
growth. Examples of potentially
"J" Medium Industrial; "K" Heavy
potentially
hazardous foods include: raw and
Industrial; "AG" Agricultural; "CF"
hazardous food
cooked meat, dairy products,
Community Facilities; "MU-2" High
seafood, processed or cut fruits and
Intensity Mixed Use; and "NS" Near
vegetables, and cooked rice and
Southside
pasta
Public Property
In most cases, mobile vendor units cannot operate on city streets, rights -of -way or within public
spaces. Exceptions include special events sanctioned by neighborhood associations or by
agreement with the Park & Recreation Department.
Downtown Urban Design District
Mobile vendor units operating on private property within the Downtown Urban Design District,
where the property is zoned for commercial use, must obtain approval from the Downtown Design
Review Board and comply with the supplementary standards set forth in § 5.406 (Mobile
Vendors) of the Zoning Ordinance.
Proximity to Residential Uses
1. Permits for units located between 50 feet and 100 feet from any single-family and
multifamily residential use are valid for six months from the date of its issuance.
Additionally, consent is required from the residential property owners.
2. No mobile vending unit may operate within 50 feet from a single-family or multi -family
residential use, provided however, a fresh market mobile vendor shall be permitted to
operate within such 50-foot setback and on a lot with an existing nonresidential use, such
as but not limited to a church or school.
3. A fresh market mobile vendor shall not operate on a lot used for residential purposes.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 25-0012
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
January 14, 2025
Page 3 of 3
SUBJECT: MOBILE VENDING UNIT OPERATIONS IN FORT WORTH
4. Amplified music and portable chairs and tables are prohibited after 10 pm.
Operations in City Parks
If food and/or alcoholic beverages are served to the public via a mobile vending unit, the event
holder must contact Tarrant County Public Health or Environmental Services to obtain the
necessary health permit(s). Once the necessary health permits are issued the event holder must
obtain a reservation permit and execute a license agreement with the Park & Recreation
Department (PARD) to operate at an approved park site. A fee will be assessed at the time a
reservation is made. Concerns received by the PARD regarding vendor services are investigated
and addressed by the PARD. In some instances, the PARD may contact the Police Department
or Environmental Services for assistance.
PARD will provide written approval to serve or sell alcoholic beverages at any event subject to the
requirements of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
Health Permits
With the exception of Tarrant County, the City has regulatory health permit authority for mobile
food units that operate within city limits (i.e., Denton, Johnson, Parker and Wise counties). Based
on state law effective September 2023, Tarrant County Public Health has sole health permit
authority for mobile food vendors within Tarrant County.
Any concern for the operations of mobile food vendors can be reported by calling the 311 Fort
Worth Contact Center at 817-392-1234.
For questions on this report, please contact Wyndie Turpen, Assistant Director of Environmental
Services at (817) 392-6982, Joel McKnight, Assistant Park and Recreation Director at (817) 392-
5755; Shannon Elder, Deputy Code Compliance Director, at (817) 392-6326; LaShondra
Stringfellow, Assistant Director, Development Services at 817-392-6214.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS