Fairfax County says more flexibility is needed in food truck operating hours

Fairfax County Planning Commission believes the county should reconsider its current time limits for food trucks.

At their meeting on Jan. The Board of Supervisors was asked to consider extending the current limit of 4 hours per location at their meeting on January 15.

The Mason District Representative, Alis Wang was not able to attend the meeting. Therefore, Phil Niedzielski Eicher, At-Large, made the proposal on behalf of Mason Commissioner Alis.

Niedzielski Eichner, a member of the planning commission, said that they unanimously approved a letter in which staff was asked to examine the problem and present “a number of options”.

Hunter Mill District Commissioner John Carter said it was worth considering whether allowing food trucks to stay longer could benefit their business and give them more visibility.

He said, “These are new businesses.”

Evelyn Spain, Sully District commissioner, noted that food trucks bring life to many community events. She said that they serve as a “place where people gather both during and after an event.”

The letter will be sent to supervisors along with the recommendations of the commission that the county relax its rules on food trucks and events in order to reduce administrative barriers and allow for more flexibility. The Board of Supervisors is expected to hear the proposed changes at its meeting on February 4.

Fairfax County currently limits food truck operations in residential neighborhoods to areas adjacent to community swimming pools.

The staff proposal endorsed last week by the planning commission would allow food trucks on smaller commercial/industrial lots, and increase from 12 to 32 the maximum number of days per year on any given space in a residential neighborhood.

Staff recommended a “tiered” approach to reviewing special event permits. Standards and fees would vary depending on the size, type and duration of an event. For example, a one-day retail grand opening would only be allowed to last eight hours per day with 150 people at a given time. A permit would cost $100, which is half the current special event fee.

Staff proposed that the 21-day limit for events such as seasonal Christmas tree sales and cultural festivals be maintained. However, they did propose to keep it in place for carnivals and circuses. Permits would cost $240 for these second-tier events.