The City of Glen Cove’s food truck permit is costly, burdensome, and overly restrictive. The permit is $100 for the truck plus $75 for the first employee, $50 for each additional employee, and requires a $1000 surety bond (costs ~$100), passport sized photos for every employee, and a police inspection. Moreover the permit is calendar year not year to date. 

When trucks do apply for the permit they are told that they are “not permitted to stay in one location for any amount of time whether on private property or not when making sales to the public.” Glen Cove has already used this provision to chase multiple trucks out of town.

Last year we were told that the food trucks could park behind the brewery and that the City would “not ask them to move…assuming there are no complaints about them being there.” Complaints?!? The City issued them a permit to operate! What is the point of obtaining the permit?

Meanwhile, food trucks are not required to obtain the Glen Cove permit at City sponsored events. It falls under a Nassau County Special Event Permit. Clearly the City of Glen Cove understands the value and draw that food trucks create yet they otherwise make it impossible for trucks to operate.

Other businesses will complain when they see a crowd of people lined up for the truck and think the truck is stealing business from them when in reality the overwhelming majority of people are only in Downtown Glen Cove because we promoted the truck. Even without food trucks Downtown Glen Cove is desolate so what’s the difference? 

Competition is a good thing. Why protect some businesses at the expense of others? Why limit competition and economic activity? A rising tide raises all ships. Bringing more people to Downtown Glen Cove is a net positive for the area.

So what is the solution?

1) Simplify the permit and create favorable terms to attract more trucks

• $100-$150 max
• No employee fees - It's senseless and unnecessarily drives up the cost. Employees of a licensed and insured business shouldn’t need a background check from the City of Glen Cove.
• No passport photos - Ask for a copy of the owner/applicants license instead.
• No surety bond - The trucks already provide insurance.
• No police inspection - Licensed trucks are already inspected by the Fire Marshal and Health Department.
• Make the permit year to date - Trucks that obtain the permit later in the year shouldn’t be penalized.

2 ) No short term time constraints. Most food trucks have hot oil to contend with. Driving around with hot oil is a major safety issue. Food trucks don't want to pay to be chased around town. If trucks parking in front of businesses is a concern then tie their permit to a hosting business or location.

3) Eliminate frivolous complaint driven policy enforcement. If a truck has the permit then they have the permit and should be allowed to operate without fear of complaints.

If the City feels those terms are not favorable then how about creating a separate permit for a business to regularly host food trucks without all the rigamarole. In this case, the permit should cover all trucks hosted on the property and shouldn’t require each individual truck to obtain the permit.

Sign this petition to urge the City of Glen Cove to reform the existing food truck permit policy and bring back the lively, diverse food truck community to Noble Savage. Your support is crucial in creating a more vibrant Glen Cove for everyone to enjoy.