Springfield may expand food truck rules, after success creates complaints

SPRINGFIELD – The city is developing rules for food trucks because their increasing popularity is leading to complaints about noise and trash — and has created conflict among operators.

The proposed regulations, now being reviewed in City Council subcommittee, are to include annual fees, limits on hours of operation and required permits for parking the trucks on private property.

The city has rules that apply to food trucks parked on public ways. But more are setting up in vacant lots and in parking areas of businesses, said Christopher Cignoli, director of the Department of Public Works.

“Over the past couple of years, there have been issues with food trucks in the city of Springfield on private property, where there are no regulations whatsoever,” Cignoli said.

This summer, a battle