DES MOINES, IA – Food trucks have received a long-anticipated go-ahead to legally operate on Des Moines streets Monday.

The City Council unanimously approved new regulations to accommodate the controversial business model that has been in the spotlight since late last year.

A downtown food truck pilot program is expected to launch in the next several weeks.

The program will allow mobile vendors to set up shop in metered parking spaces within four designated zones downtown: the Western Gateway, near the Iowa Events Center, west of the Polk County Courthouse, and the western East Village.

The pilot program will run six months through the fall, with close oversight and monitoring from city officials. Observations will help determine the future for food trucks in the city, which have been contentious for some restaurant owners.

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