[Adopted 12-9-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-12-09]
For the purpose of this article, the following definitions shall apply:
MOBILE FOOD ESTABLISHMENT EVENT
An event where an individual has ordered or commissioned the operation of one or more MFE at a private or public gathering.
MOBILE FOOD ESTABLISHMENT or MFE
A food service operation that is operated from a movable motor driven or propelled vehicle, portable structure, or watercraft that can change location. Mobile food establishments specifically includes but is not limited to, food trucks, food carts, ice-cream trucks/carts, and lemonade trucks/carts.
The purpose of this article is to regulate the registration process for MFEs consistent with the provisions of Chapter 5-11.1 of the Rhode Island General Laws.
A. 
No mobile food establishment shall operate within the Town without first obtaining a registration from the department pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws Chapter 5-11.1 and a Town permit issued by the Town Council pursuant to this article. The MFE operator shall provide with its application for a Town permit a complete copy of a current and valid state MFE registration.
B. 
The Town shall accept applications for municipal MFE permits by email or other electronic means.
C. 
The Town MFE permit shall expire on the same date that the state MFE registration expires.
D. 
The fee for each Town MFE permit shall be no more than $75 per year or any part of a year, or such other fee that shall not exceed the maximum fee set by the department.
E. 
The permit fee for each MFE event or for each temporary mass gathering shall be no more than $300, or such other fee that shall not exceed the maximum fee set by the Department.
F. 
Any person or entity desiring to hold a MFE event within the Town shall obtain a separate MFE event permit or temporary mass gathering permit, as applicable, prior to holding the event, and pay the applicable fee.
The Town Council may deny, suspend or revoke a permit that the Town has issued if the operation of the registrant within the Town violates the Town's land use regulations, zoning, or other ordinances in relation to the operation of a MFE.
The Town MFE permit shall be affixed to the mobile food establishment in a conspicuous place.
A. 
Any special event, as recognized and approved by the Town Council, may utilize any MFE that is duly registered by the Department and permitted by the Town Council pursuant to this chapter.
B. 
A special event MFE permit may be issued to an MFE not currently permitted by the Town Council. Application for said permit shall be submitted to the Town Clerk or his or her designee along with a fee of up to $75 per event. Application must include a complete copy of a valid and current state MFE registration. Said permit will be issued administratively by the Town Clerk. Said permit shall be displayed conspicuously at all times. All sales under this special event MFE permit will be limited only to the hours of the special event and shall be conducted where the special event is being held. Any person who has had his or her MFE permit revoked by the Town Council shall not be eligible for a special event MFE permit by the Town Clerk.