Mayor and Council approve Food Truck Courts UDC Amendment

Published on November 29, 2023

On November 28, 2023, Mayor and Council approved an amendment to the Unified Development Code (UDC) to permit the development of congregate food truck courts within the City of Tucson. These regulations created a new land use class for food courts. They also established minimum standards to protect health and safety by ensuring that necessary infrastructure such as restrooms, electrical hookups, and adequate parking are in place for congregate food truck uses.

These new regulations come after nearly a year of stakeholder and public engagement, community input, and technical analysis to develop the proposal. The new regulations will go into effect on December 28, 2023.

The process for adoption of the amendment included the following:

• October 18, 2023: The City of Tucson Planning Commission held a public hearing on the proposed Food Truck Court Unified Development Code amendment. At that meeting, the Planning Commission voted 7-0 to forward a recommendation to the City of Tucson Mayor and Council. Materials from that public hearing may be found on the Planning Commission page.
• September 13, 2023: The City of Tucson Planning Commission held a study session on the proposed Food Truck Court UDC amendment. At that meeting, the Planning Commission reviewed the proposal and voted 7-0 to forward the item to a Planning Commission Public Hearing. Materials from that study session may be found on the Planning Commission page.
• August 15, 2023: Planning and Development Services Department staff held two public meetings to discuss potential amendments to the UDC related to the congregation of food trucks, and received feedback on the proposed code amendment.
• January 11, 2023: Mayor and Council requested that Planning and Development Services Department staff begin developing language to permit congregate food truck courts, and establish minimum standards which protect health and safety. Planning and Development Services conducted research, consultation, stakeholder engagement, and public outreach to food truck operators, restaurateurs and the general public during the development of the regulations.