Food carts can stay longer

Food carts could sprout up this summer in plazas and on street corners around the state, thanks to a new law allowing them to be semi-permanent.

Effective May 11, 2010, one day after signed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty, the law allows mobile food carts to stay in one location longer than 21 days, provided the local regulatory authority permits.

“We’re working to improve our civic climate downtown, create more vibrancy on the streets,” said Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL-Mpls), who sponsors the law with Sen. D. Scott Dibble (DFL-Mpls). The opening of Target Field, the new Minnesota Twins ballpark, was the impetus for that effort in Minneapolis.

The original proposal was meant to apply just to the state’s largest city, but an amendment successfully offered by Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer (R-Big Lake) on the House floor makes the law statewide.

HF3591*/ SF3115/CH294