SAN BERNARDINO, CA – Food truck vendors desiring to do business in San Bernardino County scored a small victory Tuesday after the Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance that will allow them to expand their footprint in the county.

The board unanimously approved proposals by the Land Use services and Public Health departments establishing new regulations on how food trucks are inspected for health and sanitation requirements and when, where and how food trucks can operate.

Because some of the county’s 24 cities are opposed to food trucks operating in their jurisdictions other than at special community events, the ordinance provides discretion to those cities to maintain the status quo if that is their choice.

While the ordinance does not allow what food truck operators want most: the ability to roam freely through the county and sell their cuisine wherever they like, the majority of supervisors say the proposed ordinance is a good start that could potentially open the door for even fewer restrictions in the future.

“I’m hopeful that someday they’ll be allowed to roam freely like they do throughout the state, but baby steps,” said Supervisor Janice Rutherford, who proposed the ordinance last year after some of her constituents wanting to operate food trucks in the county informed her of the county’s long-standing ban.

Riverside and San Bernardino counties are the only counties in the state that have imposed such restrictions on food truck operators, citing mainly health and safety concerns.

Board Chairwoman Josie Gonzales said there isn’t any reason why the new ordinance wouldn’t work so long as it is structured accordingly and the proper administrative and legal remedies are in place.

The land-use rules apply to unincorporated areas only and create new categories of major and minor food truck events. Major events would serve more than 500 people per event and are limited to six a year. Minor events would serve 500 or fewer people and could be held year-round so long as permits are obtained for each event.

Vendors would be required to pay an annual fee of $596, per location, for every event where they sell their wares, which had some food truck proponents balking.

Find the entire article by Joe Nelson at redlandsdailyfacts.com <here>