2026/01/28 Council Agenda Packet

ORDINANCE NO. _________________ An ORDINANCE relating to mobile food units. WHEREAS, A. Permitted and licensed food vendors are required to obtain food-service permits, receive education regarding safe food handling, storage, and preparation, and are subject to routine inspections to ensure compliance with applicable health and safety standards; B. The Snohomish County Health Department is authorized to inspect and respond to unpermitted food vendors but has limited enforcement capability with respect to ongoing operations within the City of Everett; C. The Snohomish County Health Department is aware of, and has recently responded to, numerous unpermitted food vendors within the City of Everett; D. Unpermitted food vendors operate without the required permits or inspections and therefore without verification that they possess the necessary power, potable water, sanitation, cleaning facilities, and temperature-control capabilities required to safely store, prepare, and handle food for sale to the public; E. The operation of unpermitted food vendors undermines compliance with established food-safety and licensing requirements, creates unfair competition for properly permitted vendors, diminishes incentives to adhere to rigorous health standards, and poses a risk to public health and safety; F. Existing enforcement tools available to the Snohomish County Health Department and the City of Everett are insufficient, standing alone, to deter or promptly address the continued operation of unpermitted food vendors within the City, necessitating additional local regulatory measures to ensure compliance with food-safety requirements and prevent the spread of foodborne illnesses; G. The regulation of mobile food units and unpermitted food vending activity within the City is consistent with, and intended to complement, applicable state and local public health laws, regulations, and food-safety codes, including those governing food service permitting, inspection, and sanitation standards;