New food trucks code being discussed by Cape Coral officials

The Cape Coral City Council discussed a new code on Wednesday to treat mobile food vendors the same as restaurants. In turn, this will create a standard for all food trucks in Cape Coral to be held to.

The days are numbered for seating areas like the one at the Paraiso food truck in Cape Coral.

The city is working on a new code with the intention to eliminate all food truck based restaurants. If passed, every truck will be required to be fully mobile, which means no more seats, tents, or permanent utilities.

Jasinto Parra runs the Paraiso food truck and doesn’t like what the city is trying to do.

“For me it’s not good because we pay taxes,” Parra said. “It’s not right.”

However, Max Curtis owns the Taco Works food truck and a brick-and-mortar location, and he’s all for it.

“I don’t think anything is going to be a detriment or a hurt, I could just see I liken it to like how code enforcement is here in Cape, you know, it’s, they want to, they want it looking clean and nice and presentable,” Curtis said.

For years these trucks in Cape Coral haven’t had any regulations and owners have been able to set up shop wherever they want. The code will change that by not only establishing standards but also giving them a place to call home, a mobile food truck park.

“It’s a great attraction. People love food trucks, they love when there’s multiples together. So having a place that they can all go all the time,” Curtis said. “It’s something that will really draw people to the Cape.”

And while current trucks won’t be able to keep their current locations, the city is hopeful the main hub will create a community atmosphere where each truck can support the other.

Next month the city council is expected to discuss the food truck rules during a public hearing.