A Place at the Table for Food Trucks

In an attempt to address issues surrounding the boom in food trucks in Los Angeles, Councilmember Tom LaBonge introduced two motions to create specific parking areas for food trucks outside of commercially zoned areas, study how other municipalities have worked to integrate the new trend successfully and establish fines for trucks that repeatedly violate city and county codes.
The Councilmember’s motions, which were seconded by Fifth District Councilmember Paul Koretz, respond to the limited parking space in Los Angeles. Residents and merchants complain that the trucks prevent the public from using parking spaces and that customers often block the sidewalk and leave litter behind. There is also concerned about the oversized vehicles.
“I’m not against the catering trucks,” Councilmember LaBonge said. “My concern is that metered parking was installed as a solution to the limited public parking in business district. We need to find a place for these trucks to park so they don’t interfere with the flow of personal vehicles through a shopping district.”
In high-traffic business centers, like the Miracle Mile on Wilshire Boulevard and on Hollywood Boulevard, lunch trucks line the street in one-hour, metered parking. When the hour is over, the owners stay parked, absorbing the resulting ticket as part of their business expense. The Department of Transportation has a policy to issue only one ticket per violation per day.
Councilmember LaBonge has requested an investigation into the possibility of creating a designated parking area for the gourmet trucks. Both motions are attached and have been referred Transportation Committee for further review.
Community meetings will be held to discuss this issue further. To read the two motions, click here.