STAFFORD – An overhaul of Stafford’s food truck regulations was proposed, with officials saying the changes will streamline applications, clarify expectations, and reinforce safety requirements for mobile vendors.
Township Administrator Matthew von der Hayden said the proposal updates portions of Chapter 155 of the Township Code, which covers peddling and solicitation.
“The rules are already in place,” he said. “What the introduction is trying to do is give the food truck ordinance a little more flexibility.”
He said the current permitting process is often slow for both permanent food truck operators and vendors who attend one-day events. “We have food trucks that operate on a regular basis and food trucks that come in for one-day events,” he said. “The process is lengthy, so we were trying to expedite it.”
Safety checks remain a central focus. “When food trucks come in from out of the area, our number one thing as a public entity is to make sure they’re safe for the public,” von der Hayden said. Inspections involve the Fire Prevention Bureau, the Building Department, and other departments based on the nature of each event.
He said the updated ordinance reflects input from multiple agencies, including Township Clerk Susan Farrell, the Fire Bureau, the Building Department, and Township Attorney Michael Haines. “You don’t want to make a rule change and then find out it affects an aspect of public safety without everyone being on the same page,” he said.
The proposal outlines a structured list of requirements for food truck operators. Vendors would need a special event food truck license from the Recreation Department, a valid food handler’s license, a sanitary inspection from Ocean County, fingerprinting approved by the Police Department within 30 days of the event, and a fire safety inspection.
Under the ordinance, vendors could participate in up to eight special events per year and would be restricted to the operating hours listed on their event sublicense. Food trucks would not be permitted to serve motorists directly from their vehicles and could not operate within 500 feet of a restaurant or residential zone.
Parking hours for food trucks on public streets would be limited to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays and Mondays. The Township would retain the ability to restrict the number of trucks at any event, adjust fees, or authorize the use of public property for food-truck-related activities.
Von der Hayden said the goal is to balance safety, efficiency, and clear standards for everyone involved. “It’s trying to help the process along for those that want to bring a food truck into town,” he said.
The ordinance, introduced at the November 17 Township Council meeting, is scheduled for a public hearing on December 16.
