A new year means changes for food truck owners. These changes were discussed at a meeting on Thursday. A new streamlined process from the City of Birmingham is making it easier for business owners to obtain licences. Staff said the steps to obtain a business license are still the same, but now there is a separate order they must follow. The process started on January 2 and the purpose of the meeting was to inform event planners about it. With the new streamlined process, food truck owners are now required to first obtain a fire inspection with Birmingham Fire & Rescue. Next are inspections with the health department and the Department of Transportation before being approved for a business license. Being mid-January, the city wanted to make sure event planners were aware of these changes as they planned throughout the year. Part of that is knowing which food trucks are legally allowed to operate in the Magic City. “We’ve had several food trucks say, ‘Why now?'” said Chandra Temple with the city of Birmingham. “But what we want to remind the food trucks is that they have always been in the country. It’s only now that we’re reminding them that it’s better to follow A, B, C – just so we can help you be more successful in what you’re doing in running your business.” Tanesha Sims-Summers is the co-owner of Naughty but Nice Kettle Corn Company. She thinks streamlining the process is a good move by the city to make sure food trucks operate safely in the city. “Safety is number one, right?” Sims-Summer said. “Safety has to come first because — if you as a food truck owner — if you get hurt, your team or staff gets hurt and of course, you’re hurting the community. Of course, this just doesn’t play well with just running your business. I think it will reveal the impact that events will have on the sustainability of food truck owners.” The City of Birmingham said food truck owners must apply for a business license each year. Anyone who has not applied for a license has until February 15 to do so before being charged a late fee. Another new change in the plan is that fire inspections now cost $100.
A new year means changes for food truck owners. These changes were discussed at a meeting on Thursday.
A new streamlined process from the City of Birmingham is making it easier for business owners to obtain licences. Staff said the steps to obtain a business license are still the same, but now there is a separate order they must follow. The process started on January 2 and the purpose of the meeting was to inform the event planners about it.
With the new streamlined process, food truck owners are now required to first obtain a fire inspection with Birmingham Fire & Rescue. Next are inspections with the health department and the Department of Transportation before being approved for a business license. Being mid-January, the city wanted to make sure event planners were aware of these changes as they planned throughout the year. Part of that is knowing which food trucks are legally allowed to operate in the Magic City.
“We’ve had some food trucks say, ‘Why now?'” said Chandra Temple with the city of Birmingham. “But what we want to remind food trucks is that they’ve always been around. It’s right now that they’re we remind them that it’s best to follow A, B, C – just so we can help you be more successful in what you’re doing in running your business.”
Tanesha Sims-Summers is the co-owner of Naughty but Nice Kettle Corn Company. She thinks streamlining the process is a good move by the city to make sure food trucks operate safely in the city.
“Safety is number one, right?” Sims-Summer said. “Safety has to come first because — if you as a food truck owner — if you get hurt, your team or staff gets hurt and of course, you’re hurting the community. Of course, this just doesn’t play well with just running your business. I think it will reveal the impact that events will have on the sustainability of food truck owners.”
The City of Birmingham said food truck owners must apply for a business license each year. Anyone who has not applied for a license has until February 15 to do so before being charged a late fee. Another new change in the plan is that fire inspections now cost $100.
