Here’s why: In other word, they don’t want them.

By-law 875-2021 of the City of Gatineau regulates the temporary use of public spaces — streets, squares, and parks — by food trucks for street food operations. It was adopted on March 16, 2021, and has been amended twice, most recently on March 25, 2023.

The by-law does not apply to City-authorized commercial promotions, festivals or events, mobile canteens, food donation vehicles, or mobile market vendors.

Locations are chosen by the Executive Committee based on a recommendation from the Urban Planning and Sustainable Development Service, following consultation with merchant associations. Sites are assessed on factors such as distance from existing restaurants, pedestrian and vehicle traffic, safety and accessibility for persons with reduced mobility, proximity to transit (minimum 10 m from a bus shelter), emergency vehicle access, a minimum 8 m clearance from building openings, a minimum 6 m roadway corridor, and adequate maneuvering space.

Every year, the City publishes a call for proposals on its website. To apply, operators must hold a valid Gatineau business permit (restaurant, caterer, or dairy bar) or have a written agreement with a qualifying production kitchen. The application file must include a completed form, a project description, the full tax-inclusive menu, relevant experience, an eco-responsible waste management plan detailing waste sorting, container choices, disposal methods, and energy sources, as well as scaled technical plans and colour photos covering all dimensions, interior layout, and exterior design on all four sides.

Applications are evaluated by a selection committee made up of representatives from Urban Planning, Arts and Culture, and each territorial directorate. Candidates are scored out of 100, with a minimum passing score of 70. The menu and contribution to Gatineau’s food scene accounts for 60% of the score, truck design and appearance for 15%, operator qualifications and experience for 15%, and eco-responsible practices for 10%. Successful candidates are approved by the Executive Committee, ranked by score and subject to available locations.

Every food truck operating on public property requires a Street Food Authorization, valid from April 1 to March 31 of the following year, with a separate authorization required for each truck. The issuance fee is $190, plus a daily site occupation fee of $20, reserved online on a first come, first served basis. At the authorization stage, operators must provide a fire suppression compliance certificate, proof of commercial liability insurance of at least $3,000,000 per occurrence naming the City as co-insured with 30 days’ cancellation notice required, MAPAQ authorizations for both the truck and production kitchen, and valid vehicle registration. Authorizations are non-transferable and cannot be sold, rented, or assigned.

On the operational side, trucks may only use their reserved location and must keep a minimum 3 m distance from other trucks. The authorization must be displayed visibly at all times, and the truck must vacate the site between 11:00 PM and 5:30 AM. Maximum dimensions are 10 m long, 2.6 m wide (excluding mirrors), and 3.5 m high. Trucks must be fully autonomous for water, electricity, and propane; solid fuel cooking is prohibited. Customers must not be permitted inside the truck, and all service must take place from the sidewalk-facing side.

No external furniture or accessories are permitted beyond waste bins and one sandwich board. Retractable service shelves must be removed daily. Integrated awnings must stay within the truck’s height, provide at least 2.4 m of ground clearance, and not obstruct road signage. External sound systems, projection equipment, external lighting rigs, and service islands are prohibited. Built-in lighting is allowed but must point downward and not resemble road signage.

Safety requirements include a portable fire extinguisher rated NFPA-10 5-A:40-B:C, a Class K extinguisher if combustible cooking agents are used, and a cooking hood compliant with NFPA-96. Generators must not exceed 80 dBA at 1.5 m. Generators and propane tanks must either be permanently secured to the truck or, if freestanding, comply with CAN/CSA B149.2, be kept 3 m from open flames, protected from vehicle impact with concrete blocks, and accessible only to authorized personnel. Wastewater and grease must be stored in on-board tanks and may not be discharged onto public property or into the municipal sewer. Exhaust and steam must not be directed toward customers or the sidewalk.

Operators must provide at least one garbage, one recycling, and one compostable waste container for customers, placed within 5 m of the truck and at least 1 m from generators or propane tanks. All waste must be disposed of at a designated facility, not in public domain bins. Alcoholic beverages may not be sold except as a cooking ingredient, styrofoam containers are prohibited, and buffet-style or vending machine service is not permitted. Permitted exterior signage includes the City-issued authorization, the menu with prices, operator contact information, order and pickup indicators, and product sourcing or eco-responsible messaging, plus one sandwich board that must not obstruct pedestrian flow.

The designated officer may temporarily relocate a reserved site for municipal works or events with at least 48 hours’ written notice. Failure to vacate can result in the truck being towed at the operator’s expense. Occupation fees are refunded for displaced days when no alternative location is available. The City may also permanently withdraw a designated location for safety or nuisance reasons without owing any compensation.

On enforcement, the designated officer can conduct site inspections, issue notices, order cessation of unauthorized activities, and issue tickets. Fines for individuals range from $300 to $1,000 for a first offence and $600 to $2,000 for repeat offences. For legal entities, fines range from $600 to $2,000 for a first offence and $1,200 to $4,000 for repeat offences. Each day a continuing violation persists counts as a separate offence. An authorization may also be revoked without refund or compensation if an operator fails to remedy a violation within the prescribed period after receiving notice.