Miniature donuts, street taco’s, tasty burgers and street fairs. They have one thing in common- regulations that make it costly to do business in Utah. These hard-working food trucks have many obstacles in their way, as each county requires their own license and health department requirements. One county isn’t prohibitive, but when you multiply it by thirty counties, the cost ends up restricting where the food trucks can do business.
The Libertas Institute has introduced legislation to loosen the regulations on food trucks. The Bill would allow a food truck vendor to get licensing in their county of origin, and it would be honored in every county throughout the State. It is a reciprocity law. This law would make it easier and cheaper for food trucks to operate in the State. This adds up to a tasty proposition not only for the food trucks but also for the many venues that use food trucks as a draw for their events. They can now attract a wider variety of food trucks to serve their customers.
On a personal note, we ran a miniature donut business for two years, we found the Utah laws to be so cost prohibitive that we ended up doing business in Idaho instead. In Idaho, they have reciprocity laws in place, so that you only need one license throughout the state.
In September, the Libertas Institute held a Food Truck for Freedom Rally to get the word out. Hundreds showed up despite bad weather to show support. To read more about this legislation go to http://libertasutah.org/policy-papers/foodtruck_freedom.pdf.
Call or write your local legislator to support loosening up regulations on food trucks. When you consider that under Governor Herbert, Utah has become the 13th most regulated state, it is time to support legislation to turn the tide and start reducing the red tape that many small businesses (in this case food trucks) encounter.
