The food trucks are staying in Mississauga for at least another year: city

The many food trucks that have been doing business across Mississauga in the past year as part of a pilot project will continue to feed hungry customers in the city for at least another 12 months.

The vendors, who took to the streets and parks in spring 2025 as part of a one-year pilot program, will stick around through April 30, 2027 after Mississauga city council recently decided to extend their stay. The pilot study had been scheduled to conclude next Thursday.

The one-year extension, though, comes with several modifications to the City of Mississauga’s Mobile Food Vendors in Public Spaces Pilot Program, including new rules and fines for non-compliance.

The pilot began last May 1 and allowed food trucks, ice cream trucks, food carts and ice cream bikes to take to Mississauga’s streets and parks like never before.

Under the program, dozens of on-street parking locations were identified by city staff as areas where food trucks — but not other food vendors — could do their business selling food and beverages to hungry and thirsty customers.

In keeping tabs on the pilot, city staff identified several issues that popped up since the program was launched.

In a report presented to council earlier this spring, staff said a survey sent to vendors returned “largely positive” feedback for year one of the pilot, “with recurring themes focused on enforcement and clearer program parameters, and additional suggestions aimed at expanding vending opportunities and improving operational support.”

People have enjoyed offerings from food trucks and food carts at numerous locations across Mississauga under a pilot project launched in May 2025.

Staff feedback related to the program “was mixed,” the report pointed out.

“Parks and municipal parking (workers) noted no issues, while enforcement, and venue and events (staff) flagged compliance concerns and recommended targeted adjustments.”

Among modifications made to the program are “additional measures to deter future violations and the removal of the on-street parking locations near Celebration Square,” the report stated.

An escalating fine system for those who break the rules, particularly habitual offenders, has now put in place penalties of $500 followed by $750 and then $1,000, the city said.

The modifications to the pilot “are designed not only to improve operational efficiency and compliance, but to uphold the program’s integrity, promote fairness and deter conduct that circumvents program rules as a means of obtaining undue advantage,” staff said in their report.

Pilot creates opportunities for entrepreneurs, city says

The city launched the food truck pilot one year ago to “create opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs while strengthening the community through more vibrant public spaces and the animation of our parks.”

It called for food trucks, ice cream trucks, food carts and ice cream bikes to set up shop on streets (just food trucks) and parks across the city, mostly in and around the downtown core and in waterfront areas.

In giving the initiative their stamp of approval in early 2025, city councillors agreed to a request from the Port Credit Business Improvement Area that six on-street locations previously approved for food trucks be removed from the pilot project.

Port Credit BIA executive director Kelly Ralston appeared before councillors at the time to make the case that the half dozen locations be excluded because allowing food trucks in those places would do serious — and possibly existential — financial harm to nearby Port Credit cafes, restaurants and other businesses that are “very concerned right now” for their economic well-being.