Wanting to host a Vendor with the City of Port Angeles on your private property?

Multiple Mobile and Itinerant Hosting:

Mobile and Itinerant Vendor Hosting Application.

Minor Mobile and Itinerant Hosting Site Plan Review;

For property owners in non-residential zones wanting to host up to one Mobile or Itinerant Vendor.

Major Mobile and Itinerant Hosting Site Plan Review;

For property owners in residential zones wanting to host up to one or more Mobile or Itinerant Vendors, OR for property owners in non-residential zones wanting to host more than one Mobile or Itinerant Vendor.

Site Plan Examples:

• Single Non-residential Zones Mobile or Itinerant Vendor
• Single Residential Zones Mobile or Itinerant Vendor 
• Multiple Non-residential Zones Mobile or Itinerant Vendor 
• Multiple Residential Zones Mobile or Itinerant Vendor 

What are the old regulations and history of permitting Mobile and Itinerant Vendors:

In 2017, city staff began a review of potential food regulations and best practices from around the state and country. Due to other work plan priorities such as housing-related code updates, revisions to the Comprehensive Plan, and the development of the Housing Action Plan, the mobile and itinerant vendor code amendment effort was put on a temporary hold that has lasted several years due to a change in work plan priorities and the COVID-19 pandemic. The city has allowed mobile vendors, such as food trucks, in the following ways: 

1. They can operate under another permit, such as the farmers market or any public event. 
2. The property can use a conditional permit to allow food trucks onsite. 
3. Rights-of-way use permit is a potential for temporary on-street use 
4. A business can have dedicated space for food trucks through a parking lot activity with a specific time allowance. 

The city had processed two separate conditional-use permits. One permit (CUP 17-18) at 132 E Front Street was approved for a single food truck (Turnip the Street), and the other (CUP 19-66) at 722 Lincoln Street was approved for a mobile vendor lot that can accommodate three permanent or rotating vendors onsite. The current code does not acknowledge mobile vendors as a use, and those itinerant vendors that are acknowledged do not have up-to-date standards for staff evaluation. The following sections of this memo provide a timeline, goals and objectives, and a typology and summary of findings from staff’s research of applicable codes, standards, and best practices concerning the various kinds of mobile and itinerant vendors that could be regulated under revised and amendments to chapters of municipal code in Title 17 - Zoning.

Mobile vendors like food trucks could only operate under various permits, including:

• Public Event Permits: Operating at farmers' markets or city events.
• Conditional Use Permits (CUPs): Allows food trucks on specific properties, such as 132 E Front Street and 722 Lincoln Street.
• Right of Way Use Permits: For temporary street use.
• Dedicated Business Space: Food trucks can be stationed in designated parking areas with set time limits.

The existing code lacks formal acknowledgment of mobile vendors and does not provide updated standards for their regulation.

What Does the Update Include?

• Define Mobile and Itinerant Vendors: Establish clear definitions and categories for different types of vendors.
• Revise Permitting Processes: Streamline and clarify the permit requirements for mobile vendors, including food trucks, street vendors, and market stalls.
• Update Safety and Health Standards: Incorporate modern health, safety, and operational standards.
• Enhance Community Engagement: Create new channels for residents and vendors to provide input and stay informed.
• Promote Local Economy: Implement measures to support local businesses and sustainable practices.

Why Is the City Performing This Update?

• Address Gaps in Current Regulations: The existing code does not adequately cover mobile vendors or provide up-to-date standards.
• Reflect Best Practices: Align with best practices from other jurisdictions to ensure effective and fair regulation.
• Support Local Economy: Foster a vibrant vendor community that supports local businesses and provides residents with diverse options.
• Improve Safety and Compliance: Ensure that health and safety standards are met and that vendors operate within clear and fair guidelines.

How Will This Update Benefit City Residents?

• Increased Access to Services: More diverse food and product options through regulated mobile vendors.
• Enhanced Safety: Improved health and safety standards for mobile food vendors.
• Better Community Engagement: More opportunities to provide feedback and influence vendor operations.
• Economic Growth: Support local businesses and new economic opportunities through streamlined vendor processes.

What was the process the City took to provide this update?

On June 26, 2024, the Planning Commission made a motion to continue the discussion of changes to Title 17—Retail Stands of the municipal code to eliminate potential barriers to mobile and itinerant vendors and expand on permitted uses. Staff began discussing the process, public engagement, and researching local municipal codes for various implementation options. The Planning Commission meeting will outline the pathway to amending the code, including a robust public process. 

August-September 2024 - Public Outreach will be conducted at the following locations concurrently with the Comprehensive Plan outreach:

• August 15-18 - Clallam County Fair. 
• Pop-up listening post events. 
• Staff hosted a kiosk at the PA Farmers’ Markets. 
• Staff hosted a kiosk on Wednesday at the Concerts at the Pier.
• Please see the Vision 2045 page for more specific dates and locations.

October 2024 - Outreach was scheduled:

• Meeting with Key Stakeholders, such as existing regional food truck owners.
• Staff presentation at a Chamber of Commerce meeting. 
• Staff presentation at a Port Angeles Association of Realtors meeting.
• Staff presentation at a Port Angeles Business Association meeting.

The proposed Title 17 code amendments will be discussed at the public meetings of the Port Angeles Planning Commission and City Council:

• September – Planning Commission – Review of the first draft with alternatives.
• November – Planning Commission – Present Draft Code with Alternatives & Public Input.
• December - Planning Commission – Present Code & Public Hearing.
• January – City Council – Ordinance Adoption - First Read
• February – City Council – Ordinance Adoption - Second Read

Informational Publications

Category: Educational Materials

Description: These documents are not just informative but also enriching. They are designed to educate and inform the public or specific audiences about various topics. They may include brochures, fact sheets, and informational guides on a range of subjects relevant to vendors and the general community.