SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. — The Safety Harbor City Commission unanimously approved new hours allowing food trucks to open earlier each day.
Previously, they weren’t permitted to open until 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday with additional hours on the weekend.
Food trucks in Safety Harbor can now operate earlier every day of the week.
What You Need To Know
Food trucks can now operate from 3 p.m. until 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday
Friday to Sunday hours expanded as well, from noon to business closing time
Under the same ordinance, the city commission doubled the mobile vendor fire inspection fee from $25 to $50
Food truck owners are looking forward to the new opportunities
Food truck owners are looking forward to the new hours.
Jason Viera comes from a long line of cooks. He took his cooking skills to the streets at the start of this year with his truck “Mestizo.” Viera said there are a lot of regulations when it comes to owning and operating a food truck.
“It may not be hard to find the events, finding an event that’s good for you and that will allow your truck to operate is not as easy as it seems,” said Viera.
Viera tried to work in Safety Harbor on weekdays, but until recently food trucks weren’t allowed to open until 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, so Safety Harbor wasn’t a viable option.
“It’s devastating, especially when your schedule is barren and you need something and you thought you had this one because you finally got to talk to the person and then it falls through,” he said.
The Safety Harbor City Commission voted to update the city code. Now, food trucks can operate from 3 p.m. until 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Friday to Sunday hours expanded as well, from noon to business closing time. Trucks will also be allowed during city-sponsored special events.
Safety Harbor Mayor Joe Ayoub said the changes will primarily impact breweries.
“The rationale for the new ones (hours) is to give some of the businesses and the residents a little more flexibility for food options when there are breweries or even other places in the city,” said Mayor Joe Ayoub.
The mayor said they focused on finding the right balance, with regulations that are fair to brick-andmortar restaurants, but also meet the needs and wants of residents.
“There’s generally not a lot of food options there, most of them don’t have kitchen, so they can’t provide food to their customers. So, they really rely on the food trucks to be able to provide food to people that get hungry there,” Ayoub said.
Now, Viera wants to serve Cuban fusion cuisine at a Safety Harbor brewery twice a week.
“I really enjoy Safety Harbor and I’m looking forward to bringing the truck out to the city and serving all the patrons in Safety Harbor,” Viera said.
Under the same ordinance, the city commission doubled the mobile vendor fire inspection fee from $25 to $50.
The increase will offset the cost of the service, the city said.