Are food trucks allowed on Longboat Key?

Should food trucks be allowed to park and remain open for business for days and weeks at a time?

That question was the crux of a conversation between Longboat Key town commissioners at Tuesday’s workshop meeting. The discussion was prompted by a coffee trailer that had been set up in the outdoor seating area of the former Turtle Café location, which closed in 2024.

“The real issue is do we want to become a community that has trailers parked instead of brick and mortar? Our commercial real estate owners would probably say no, we can’t compete with a trailer,” said Town Commissioner BJ Bishop, adding that food trucks operating during special events, however, play an important role in the community.

Planning and Zoning Director Allen Parsons explained that the coffee trailer in question was operating under a six-month temporary use permit with 90-day renewals possible. He noted that the circumstances surrounding the issuance of the permit were unique and do not set a precedent for the town.

“I would absolutely say it’s a one-off in that it was considered in the context of hurricane recovery,” Parsons said. “That building had been damaged. We did get a request from the building owners.”

Bishop brought up that the temporary use permit was issued 11 months after Hurricane Helene’s impacts.

The debate about this particular food truck was “a short-term problem, and kind of moot at this point,” said Commissioner Penny Gold, noting that a new coffee shop, Sips, is planning to move into the space as early as February.

The Commission did not take any action or direct staff to make any changes to how food trucks are regulated in the town, and Bishop was glad to hear the coffee trailer example was not a sign of things to come.

“If this truly is a one-off and Allen doesn’t think we’re going to see somebody show up in front of another empty building with a trailer, I think was just a good learning experience,” Bishop said.