Written by Wildwood’s food truck rules are taking shape. At Monday’s city commission meeting, commissioners told staff what they want in a revised ordinance, and the direction is a lot tighter for downtown.
No final vote was taken. Staff will rewrite the draft ordinance and bring it back for more discussion, according to Villages-News coverage of the Nov. 9 meeting.
What commissioners asked for
- Bigger lots only: Trucks could set up only on a lot of at least three acres that meets all requirements. Most of downtown doesn’t meet that standard, which commissioners saw as a fix for parking problems on small lots.
- Special events still OK: Food trucks would still be allowed downtown during special events.
- No outdoor seating: No picnic tables or seating, which removes the need for handwashing stations, restrooms and other customer amenities.
- No time limits: A truck could stay on a site as long as it likes.
- Signs on the truck only: No feather flags or snipe signs.
If the rules are adopted, the city plans to review how they’re working within a year.
What they said
“If you’ve got to upset somebody, upset somebody with a food truck,” Commissioner Joe Elliot said, siding with downtown business owners.
City Manager Jason McHugh acknowledged truck owners may not like the lot-size rule. On time limits, he said, “It’s okay to just let economics work it out.”
“I don’t like the non-level playing field,” Mayor Ed Wolf said. “I think this will level it a little bit.”
How we got here
Commissioners first called for tighter food truck rules at an Oct. 19 workshop. City staff have said more trucks are setting up in Wildwood, especially downtown, after nearby cities and counties adopted their own rules. We previewed the options on the table in this week’s Wildwood meetings roundup.
Do you grab lunch from a food truck in Wildwood? Is three acres the right line, or too strict? Tell us in the comments.
Sources: Villages-News, Nov. 10, 2026; Villages-News, Oct. 19, 2026.