The Abington Township Board of Commissioners will consider a mobile food vendor ordinance on Thursday, May 8.
If approved, the ordinance will be considered for adoption at the June 12 Board of Commissioners meeting. The township has received inquiries regarding the intent of the ordinance, officials said, and compiled an FAQ which can be found here.
Some of the most asked questions can be found below:
Q: Why does the Township need this ordinance?
A: There has been an increase in both occasions of and desire to have food trucks in the township. While these are a fun opportunity for something new, with them comes the potential for safety issues. The Fire Marshal has conducted courtesy checks of food trucks in the township, and has often come upon missing fire extinguishers, fire suppression system out of date or nonfunctional, flammable liquids stored improperly, and blocked fire hydrants. This ordinance will allow for enforcement of basic safety regulations providing a safe and enjoyable time for all.
Q: Who will it impact?
A: This ordinance directly affects mobile food vendors, who will now have to register with the Township, as well as any business, property owner, or resident who would like to host a food truck.
Q: When will the ordinance be adopted and when will enforcement begin?
A: The ordinance is scheduled to be considered for advertisement by the Board of Commissioners at their May 8th meeting, and the earliest it would then be voted on is at the June 12th Board of Commissioners meeting. Enforcement will begin 5 days after the ordinance is adopted.
Q: What is required for my business to host a mobile food vendor?
A: Mobile Food Vendors will be required to register with the Township, which will include providing business information, insurance coverage documentation, and completion of a fire safety inspection by the Fire Marshal’s Office. The process is meant to be thorough but fair in ensuring everyone’s safety.
Q: Can I host a food truck at any time, or are there specific hours I need to follow?
A: There are regulations for when food trucks may operate. They may operate only between the hours of 7 AM and 9 PM. There are also time restrictions for Single Event Location permits, limiting operations to 4 hours, exclusive of set-up and breakdown time.
Q: Does this mean food trucks can operate on residential streets?
A: No, the exact opposite actually. The ordinance will restrict when and where mobile food vendors can operate, keeping them off of residential neighborhood streets. The only time they can operate on a neighborhood street is under a Single Event Location permit, and with approval of the Fire Marshal and Zoning Officer.
In related news, Abington police will host an open house on Saturday, May 10 from 10:00am – 2:00pm.
Guests will be able to see drone, K9, and tactical team demonstrations, meet officers, take tours, and participate in activities. There will also be a live performance by the Philadelphia Police and Fire Pipes and Drums.
More details can be found here.
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