North Myrtle Beach City Council to Discuss Potential Food Truck Regulations

North Myrtle Beach City Council will hold a dedicated workshop on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, to discuss whether to allow food trucks to operate within city limits and how a potential regulatory framework should be structured.

Currently, North Myrtle Beach has no formal ordinance permitting mobile food vendors. City staff prepared a draft ordinance for the workshop based on regulations used in surrounding municipalities. However, the initial draft was compiled before formal outreach was conducted with local restaurant owners, food truck operators, HOA communities, or residents.

During the workshop session, council members will review key regulatory decisions rather than taking an official vote. Issues on the table include whether to permit food trucks at all, whether to cap the total number of permits, how to establish licensing and permit fees, and how to coordinate food safety, fire safety inspections, and special event permits. Council will also examine rules regarding operation on private property and potential requirements that truck operators maintain a physical brick-and-mortar restaurant location. Alcohol sales from mobile vendors have been ruled out.

Local stakeholders have raised varying perspectives on the topic. Business owners, including Ed Prince of Prince Resorts, have voiced concerns over fairness regarding health standards, trash maintenance, and parking impacts compared to traditional fixed restaurants. Other community members have urged caution regarding restrictions that could limit commercial competition or lead to legal challenges. Neighboring jurisdictions offer contrasting examples: Myrtle Beach has regulated food trucks since 2017 with permit caps and distance rules from existing eateries, Horry County requires specific code enforcement and vendor permits, and Aynor recently passed measures welcoming trucks onto public and private commercial properties.

Because no formal vote will occur during the Aug. 5 workshop, no immediate legal changes are taking effect. City staff will take the feedback generated during the meeting to help guide future community outreach, including a potential survey of local residents and restaurant owners coordinated with Destination NMB, before returning any revised proposals to council.