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Tuesday, November 3, 2026Nov 3

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Council votes to let food trucks roll

Melissa Dorgan, left, of Bayou Bites, takes the food order of gator tail bite from Amazon employee Roderick Jackson Monday at lunch outside the Amazon distribution center in Enterprise South Industrial Park.
Melissa Dorgan, left, of Bayou Bites, takes the food order of gator tail bite from Amazon employee Roderick Jackson Monday at lunch outside the Amazon distribution center in Enterprise South Industrial Park. Melissa Dorgan, left, of Bayou Bites, takes the food order of gator tail bite from Amazon employee Roderick Jackson Monday at lunch outside the Amazon distribution center in Enterprise South Industrial Park.

Chattanooga City Council members voted on first reading Tuesday night for an ordinance that would set up downtown territories where food trucks can operate.

Supporters of the rolling eateries have said Chattanooga is well behind other cities, including Nashville, that are known as some of the most food truck-friendly cities in America.

Tuesday’s vote is the first step toward undoing the council’s 2012 ordinance that banned food trucks on streets, sidewalks or public property within the city. A petition that circulated last fall seeking more food truck freedom garnered nearly 5,000 signatures.

The vote was 9-0, with no discussion. A second and final reading is set for next Tuesday.