LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Food truck owners in Texas will soon be able to operate across the state with a single permit under a new law set to take effect July 1.
The law, Texas House Bill 2844, eliminates the need for separate permits, fees and compliance with varying rules in different cities.
Alberto Gutierrez, owner of Lubbock food truck Now We Taco’n, said he is fully behind the change.
“It’s a win for sure, it’s a win, it’s going to let us little guys travel and do what the bigger corporations could already afford to do,” Gutierrez said.
State and local collaboration
Grady Bergquist with the City of Lubbock’s environmental health department said under the new law, the state and city will work together on inspections.
“The only discernible difference would be that we would be using the state form for the inspection and it would not be the city of Lubbock, now if we determine, or if this city determines the collaborative agreement is not right for us, inspections would fall onto DSHS regional inspectors,” Bergquist said.
Bergquist said the cost to operate within Lubbock may increase, but food truck owners will gain the ability to operate statewide.
“Preliminary readings that we have seen, it will cost more for food trucks to operate, as compared to the city of Lubbock and what we currently charge, now they will be open to the entire state, not just stuck here in Lubbock,” Bergquist said.
Growth opportunities
Bergquist said the change could attract more food trucks to Lubbock.
“I think a lot of food trucks could come here and it seems it’s a really good place to get a good start, whether they want to stay and continue operating here, or if they want to venture out to a larger city like Houston, Dallas or San Antonio,” Bergquist said. “I think it would be a great place and I am really looking forward to see what types of businesses do appear.”
Gutierrez said the law will create new opportunities without the burden of navigating multiple local regulations.
“We’re just excited to try new cities, you know, you’ve always wanted to go test the waters in Austin or maybe sell some food down at the beach, this really makes it a lot more easy to go and try and grow your brand,” Gutierrez said.
Bergquist said food truck owners with questions about the new law should contact the city’s environmental health department.
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