BREAKING: Chicago lifts decades-old ban on food carts

September 24, 2015

Chicago City Council voted unanimously to lift ban on food carts; ordinance could generate thousands of jobs and millions in sales tax revenue

CHICAGO (Sept. 24, 2015) – Today the Chicago City Council voted to lift decades-old ban on food carts. The new ordinance allows the thousands of food cart vendors throughout the city to operate their businesses without fear of fines or arrest.

An economic analysis by the nonpartisan Illinois Policy Institute found that lifting the ban on food carts could generate more than 6,400 new jobs and as much as $8.5 million in local sales tax revenue. The Illinois Policy Institute’s Vice President of Policy Ted Dabrowski released the following statement on today’s vote:

“The City Council did right by food cart vendors and Chicagoans by voting today to lift the ban on food carts. This ordinance marks an important a step toward Chicago becoming a more open, dynamic and prosperous city.

 “During the debate surrounding the ordinance to legalize food carts in Chicago, numerous vendors came out of the shadows to describe the great risks they took just to operate their businesses. Up until this point, thousands of food cart vendors in the city ran their businesses every day under the threat of fines, arrest or worse. But today, they can operate freely and legally throughout the city. With today’s vote, the City Council gave thousands of Chicago entrepreneurs the opportunity to succeed – and gave all Chicagoans the exciting opportunity to enjoy an array of new culture and cuisine.”

The Illinois Policy Institute’s study of the food cart industry in Chicago found the following:

  • Chicago currently has an estimated 1,500 food cart street vendors serving more than 50,000 meals per day.
  • Allowing food carts in Chicago could generate:
    • Between 2,145 and 6,435 new jobs in the city.
    • $2 million to $8.1 million in new state sales tax revenue.
    • $2.1 million to $8.5 million in new city and county sales-tax revenue.
  • Food carts are legal in 23 of the 25 largest cities in the U.S.
  • According to a survey of Chicago food cart vendors by the Illinois Policy Institute:
    • 55 percent of vendors are women.
    • A vast majority of vendors are minorities, primarily Hispanic.
    • 95 percent of vendors support at least one dependent with their earnings.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Diana Rickert or Joe Kaiser (312) 607-4977