Temporary Food Truck Moratorium at 18th/Central to Start Dec 27
Published on December 19, 2024
Kansas City, KS – Due to several recent health and safety violations, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas (UG) will temporarily prohibit the operation of food trucks (mobile vending) around 18th Street / Central Avenue, effective Friday, December 27, 2024.
Until further notice, no food trucks will be allowed between 17th and 19th Streets and Grandview Boulevard to Wilson Boulevard.
The moratorium will be in effect for a minimum of 60 days, or until the UG Environmental Services Department is able to address any potential grease blockages and build-up that may be in the area drains and sewer pipes.
Why a moratorium?
Since the amendment of the mobile vending in May 2024, the UG has documented multiple and repeat violations of the rules, including:
- Impermissible disposal of cooking grease and other food waste directly into the stormwater drains in the area, in violation of Code section 30-11(a);
- The presence of burn barrels and evidence of burning trash in violation of the open burning ordinance and the fire code, sections 3-17(e) and 32-102(d);
- The presence of an unpermitted portable restroom, which is owned by a waste hauler that is not permitted to haul waste in Wyandotte County, in violation of Code sections 30-234(j) and (k);
- Impermissible road and right-of-way closures that were installed after the UG denied an application for their placement at this location, in violation of Code sections 32-26(a) and 32-102(d); and
- At least one food truck remaining continuously parked at the same location for several days to weeks at a time, in violation of Code section 32-188(b).
These violations may create significant health and safety hazards for the neighborhood. The Unified Government’s Health Department’s Air Quality Division reports that the burn barrels and burning trash in this area may be leaching toxins into the air, and the Fire Marshal is on notice about the serious threat of an uncontrolled fire. The improper disposal of cooking grease can result in solid blockages and the presence of maggots in the sewage system which can lead to sewage back-up during the colder weather or during a large rainstorm, costing taxpayers thousands of dollars to address. As a result of these violations, the Unified Government has had to reprioritize its regularly scheduled clean-outs of the sewer system to mitigate these problems around 18th and Central.
The Unified Government has attempted on numerous occasions to address these issues with mobile vending operators doing business in this area. Unified Government staff engaged mobile food vendors in several outreach and education initiatives through the summer of 2024 to aid in the vendors’ understanding of and compliance with the ordinance. Despite these efforts, serious violations have continued to threaten the health and safety of the neighborhood. Although no particular food truck has been identified as causing all or most of these problems, the magnitude of the problem and the numerous and serious harmful impacts on the health and safety of the neighborhood require a temporary pause on all food truck activities in this area.
It is important to note, that licensed food trucks may still operate elsewhere in Wyandotte County as long as they comply with all applicable regulations regarding their lawful operation. Mobile food vendors found to be operating in the area of 18th and Central during the moratorium and vendors found otherwise to be in violation of the Unified Government’s mobile food vending ordinance are subject to penalties.
For more information regarding the mobile vending ordinance, please visit: ARTICLE III. - STREET OR SIDEWALK VENDORS | Code of Ordinances | Wyandotte County - Unified Government, KS | Municode Library
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