City of Chicago

Office of the City Clerk

02015-4223

Document Tracking Sheet

Meeting Date:

5/20/2015

Sponsor(s):

Maldonado (26)

Type:

Ordinance

Title:

Amendment of Municipal Code Chapters 4-5, 7-38, 7-40 and

7-42 concerning establishment of license fees and operation
of mobile food vendors
Committee on License and Consumer Protection

Commlttee(s) Assignment:

ORDINANCE

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO:

SECTION 1. Chapter 4-5 of the Municipal Code of Chicago is hereby amended by
deleting the language struck through and by inserting the language underscored, as follows:
4-5-010 Establishment of license fees.
(Omitted text in not affected by this ordinance)
(15) Food - Retail Food Establishment (4-8)
(Omitted text in not affected by this ordinance)

Food - Mobile Food Vendor - Mobile Food Dispenser

.... $700.00

Food - Mobile Food Vendor - Mobile Food Preparer

.... $1,000.00

Food - Mobile Food Vendor - Mobile Prepared Food Vendor

....$350.00

(Omitted text in not affected by this ordinance)

SECTION 2. Chapter 4-8 of the Municipal Code of Chicago is hereby amended by
deleting the language struck through and by inserting the language underscored, as follows:
4-8-010 Definitions.
The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and the enforcement of this
chapter and chapters 7-38, 7-40 and 7-42 unless the context clearly indicates that another
meaning is intended. The listing of items as examples in any definition is intended to be
illustrative and not exhaustive.
(Omitted text in not affected by this ordinance)
"Mobile food vendor" means a mobile food dispenser, mobile food preparer, produce
merchant, mobile prepared food vendor or mobile desserts vendor.
(Omitted text in not affected by this ordinance)
"Mobile prepared food vendor" means anv person who, by traveling from place to place
upon the public ways, serves from a wheeled non-motorized vehicle, pushcart, or handcart
individual portions of food, coffee or other beverages that are totally enclosed in a wrapper or
container and which have been manufactured, prepared or wrapped in a licensed food
establishment.
Page 1 of 6

(Omitted text in not affected by this ordinance)

4-8-020 Licensing requirements- Exceptions.
(Omitted text in not affected by this ordinance)
(c)
(1)
No person shall engage in the business of a mobile food dispenser
without first having obtained a mobile food vendor license to engage in a mobile food dispenser
business.
(2)
No person shall engage in the business of a produce merchant without
first having obtained a mobile food vendor license to engage in a produce merchant business.
(3)
No person shall engage in the business of a mobile food preparer without
first having obtained a mobile food vendor license to engage in a mobile food preparer
business.
(4)
No person shall engage in the business of a mobile desserts vendor
without first having obtained a mobile food vendor license to engage in a mobile desserts
vendor business.
(5)
No person shall engage in the business of a mobile prepared food vendor
without first having obtained a mobile food vendor license to engage in a mobile prepared food
vendor business.
(Omitted text in not affected by this ordinance)
4-8-036 License - Application and category- Mobile food vendors.
(a)

In addition to the general application requirements,

(1)
an applicant for a mobile food vendor license to engage in a mobile food
dispenser, mobile food preparer, mobile prepared food vendor or mobile desserts vendor
business shall supply the name and address of the commissary where the vehicle or cart will be
cleaned and serviced, and if the vehicle or cart is not stored at the commissary, the name and
address of the place where such vehicle or cart will be stored when not in use. The department
of health shall approve such locations;
(2)
an applicant for a mobile food vendor license to engage in a mobile food
dispenser, mobile prepared food vendor or mobile food preparer business shall complete a
consultation with the department of health to review the proposed business practices, the
vehicle and equipment to be used, and food safety operations prior to obtaining a mobile food
vendor license. As part of this consultation, the applicant shall provide a proposed menu
including a list of all food items the applicant intends to serve. At the time of consultation, an
applicant for a mobile food vendor license to engage in a mobile food preparer business shall
provide a City of Chicago Food Sanitation Manager Certificate issued to the applicant or the
applicant's employee who will operate the mobile food truck;
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(3)
an applicant for a mobile food vendor license to engage in a mobile food
dispenser, mobile prepared food vendor or mobile food preparer business shall make the
applicant's mobile food vehicle available for inspection by the department of health at a location
determined by the department of health: health:
(Omitted text in not affected by this ordinance)
(c)
The commissioner of business affairs and consumer protection is authorized to
issue color-coded emblems for the following mobile food vendor business categories:
1.

A mobile food vendor license to engage in a mobile food preparer

2.

A mobile food vendor license to engage in a mobile food dispenser

3.

A mobile food vendor license to engage in a mobile desserts vendor

4.

A mobile food vendor license to engage in a produce merchant business.

5.

A mobile food vendor license to engage in a mobile prepared food vendor

business.

business.

business.

business.
(Omitted text in not affected by this ordinance)
SECTION 3. Chapter 7-38 of the Municipal Code of Chicago is hereby amended by
adding new section 7-38-148, by deleting the language struck through-and by inserting the
language underscored, as follows:
7-38-075 Mobile food vendor vehicles.
(a)
In addition to the applicable requirements contained in subsection (a) of section
7-38-040, every vehicle used by a mobile food dispenser or mobile food preparer vendor in the
conduct of such business shall comply with the following requirements:
(1)

the vehicle shall be enclosed with top and sides;

(2)
the interior floor, walls and ceiling of each vehicle shall be of smooth, not
readily corrodible, impervious material capable of withstanding repeated washing and scrubbing
and shall be finished in a light color;
(32) the vehicle shall not be used for any purpose other than a mobile food
dispenser or as a mobile food preparer vendor business; and
(43)
all food service equipment utilized by the mobile food dispenser or mobile
food preparer vendor shall be of easily cleanable construction and shall be maintained in good
repair and a clean condition^
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(b)

Each mobile food vehicle shall be enclosed with top and sides.

(5c)
Each mobile food tl=ie vehicle shall be registered as a commercial vehicle and
any person who operates such vehicle must have a valid driver's license issued by the state of
Illinois or another state, district or territory of the United States; States.
(d)
Each mobile food ti=e vehicle shall be inspected and maintained by a licensed
professional, including mechanics and, if applicable, by professionals who install and maintain
fire prevention equipment, and propane tanks on mobile food vehicles, as often as necessary
but not less than every 90 days, and copies of the last four maintenance reports must be kept in
the vehicle at all times while the vehicle is in use; and use.
(7e)
vehicle.

There ti=>efe shall be no more than 40 pounds of propane in ttie a mobile food

(bf)
Prior to the construction, remodeling, purchase or use of any mobile food truck or
the addition of any new equipment for the storage or preparation of food in a mobile food
vehicle, plans for such vehicle must be submitted to the department of health, and, if the mobile
food vehicle uses propane, natural gas, or has a fire suppression hood, the fire department for
approval.
7-38-090 Refrigeration and heating equipment.
All mobile food vendor vehicles shall have adequate mechanical or other refrigeration
equipment as approved by the department of health, and such equipment shall be capable of
maintaining food or drink at a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or less, if any food or drink
is required to be kept cold.
All mobile food vendor vehicles shall have adequate mechanical or other heating
equipment as approved by the department of health, and such equipment shall be capable of
maintaining food or drink at a temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit or more, if any food or
drink is required to be kept hot, or capable of heating food or drink to a temperature of 165
degrees Fahrenheit or more, if any food or drink is required to be heated.
All mechanical refrigeration and heating equipment shall be equipped with a
thermometer.
7-38-115 Operational requirements.
(Omitted text in not affected by this ordinance)
(b)
Mobile food vehicle Stops stops shall be made only to service customers and
shall not exceed (i) a total of two hours or (ii) the maximum permitted period for parking,
whichever is lesser, in any one block.
(Omitted text in not affected by this ordinance)
Page 4 of 6

(d)
Unless specifically allowed in a mobile food vehicle stand, no sales from such
mobile food vehicle shall be made between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.
(Omitted text in not affected by this ordinance)
7-38-120 Name and license number.
Every mobile food vehicle licensee vendor shall have the business name and license
number legibly painted in letters and figures at least two inches in height in a conspicuous place
on each lateral side of tiie such vendor's mobile vehicle.
7-38-124 Refuse receptacles.
The operator of a mobile food vendor vehicle shall maintain a suitable, tight, nonabsorbent washable receptacle for refuse. The operator shall be responsible for sanitation of
the environs of the place of operation, if applicable, including the mobile food vehicle stand area
used by the operator. Said refuse receptacle shall be adjacent to, but not an integral part of, the
mobile food vendor vehicle. The operator of a mobile food vendor vehicle shall dispose refuse
collected from the mobile food vendor vehicle and the environs of the place of operation at a
commissary approved by the department of health.
7-38-126 Inspections.
Mobile food vehicle licensees vendors shall make their vehicles available for inspection
at the commissary approved or at a location determined by the department of health on a
schedule determined pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the board of health.
Nothing provided in this section shall be construed to prohibit the department of health
from conducting periodic inspection of mobile food vendor vehicles as provided in this Code.
7-38-130 Preparation and service of food and drink.
(a)

No food shall be sold or served by a mobile food dispenser, except the following:
(Omitted text in not affected by this ordinance)

(4)
Individual portions of ice cream, ice milk, frozen dessert mix, sundaes or
other frozen desserts that are totally enclosed in a wrapper or container and which have been
manufactured, prepared or wrapped in a licensed food establishment establishment: and
(5)

Whole and uncooked fruits or vegetables.

(b)
No mobile food dispenser licensee shall operate as a mobile food preparer
without complying with all the requirements to operate as a mobile food preparer.
7-38-140 Mobile desserts vendor.
(Omitted text is not affected by this ordinance)
Page 5 of 6

(4)

the mobile food vehicle requirement set forth in 7-38-075(a4W(b): and

(5)

the additional vehicle requirements set forth in Section 4-8-293.

Part F. Mobile Prepared Food Vendors

7-38-148 Mobile prepared food vendor.

Except as othenft^ise provided in this section, a mobile prepared food vendor shall
comply with all applicable reguirements of this Code, including the requirements set forth in
Article II, Parts A and B of this Chapter, and the rules and regulations of the department of
health pertaining to mobile units handling food. A mobile prepared food vendor is not reguired
to comply with the following reguirements:
(1)

the additional vehicle reguirements set forth in Section 4-8-293:

(2)

the mobile food vehicle reguirement set forth in 7-38-075 (b). (c). (d), (e) and

ifii
(3)

the mobile food vehicle operational reguirements in 7-38-115;

(4)

the mobile food vehicle stands program in Section 7-38-117: and

(5)

the sinks, water storage tanks and plumbing reguirements set forth in Section 738-132.

SECTION 5. This ordinance shall take effect 30 days after passage and publication.

Alderman Roberto*"Maldonado, 26"" Ward

Page 6 of 6