CHAPEL HILL- The town council on Monday speedily approved a measure to reduce food truck regulatory fees from $600 down to $200.

In the year since the council voted to allow more food trucks in town, only one vendor has signed up for the privilege.

Many food truck operators complained that the regulatory and permitting fees, which totaled nearly $750 dollars, were too much to pay to set up shop.

In response, the council voted unanimously to trim those fees down to a total of $343, which legal adviser Matt Sullivan told the council is in line with what the city of Raleigh charges.

“We are $25 less in the regulatory fee than Raleigh, but the zoning compliance fee in Raleigh is about $25 or $30 dollars less,” said Sullivan. “Our neighbors in Carrboro charge a $75 fee, which I’d equate to a regulatory fee.”

The council also voted to allow food trucks to operate as caterers, making it easier for individuals to hire them for private parties, as well as setting up a framework for public sales at special events like food truck rodeos.

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