The Town Council unanimously passed new regulations last week that restrict the vehicles to private property and include several permits - the most expensive in the Triangle.

Vendors will have to pay a $600 annual fee, get a $118 zoning permit and a $50 privilege license. The property owner that hosts the truck will have to get a $118 permit.

"That's going to be cost prohibitive for a lot of trucks," said Brian Bottger, owner of Durham's Only Burger food truck. "That's going to give me second thoughts."

The fees will offset the costs of enforcing the new regulations, which take effect March 1.

The town anticipates hiring a part-time code enforcement officer.

Trucks will be inspected at least once a month and can only be parked on private property, at least 100 feet away from a restaurant while it is closed, unless a property owner waives that restriction, according to the regulations.

The call to consider food trucks in town came last summer from Lex Alexander, owner of 3Cups cafe on Elliot Road in Chapel Hill.

His wife, Ann, who works with food trucks in Durham, says the couple is disappointed in the new regulations and expensive permitting requirements.

"We just think it's ridiculous," she said. "Chapel Hill is making it so hard for the food tucks to be here."

"I can guarantee you they don't have $600 in their pockets. ... They make maybe that much in a night and then still have to pay for everything else," she said.

Food trucks fees and permits across the Triangle are several hundred dollars less than Chapel Hill's fees.

Raleigh charges the trucks $150 to sell their food and a $76 permit for property owners. Durham requires a $50 zoning permit and a $25 privilege license for vendors, and no permit for property owners. Carrboro charges $25 for a privilege license and $60 for a zoning permit for vendors and no permit for property owners.

No crepes

Jody Argote, owner of the Parlez Vous Crepes food truck based in Carrboro spoke during public hearings last year. But now that she can get a permit, she doesn't plan on doing business in Chapel Hill because it's too expensive.

"I think they've made it unattractive for food trucks," she said. "I also think there is maybe not a good understanding how having food truck in the town could actually benefit the town economically."

People who seek her crepes often stay downtown and visit other businesses in Carrboro and Chapel Hill, she said.

Mike Steinke talks to UNC business students about entrepreneurship but says he won't be able to park his Klausie's food truck, which sells pizza, in town.

"This law is great way of saying to food trucks 'No, we don't want you,'" he said.

UNC graduate Chela Tu lives in Chapel Hill, has worked in Chapel Hill, and would like to bring her food truck, ChirbaChirba Dumpling, to Chapel Hill. But she and her four business partners can't afford it.

"I don't know if we can justify that hefty fee," she said.

ChirbaChirba Dumpling serves Chinese dumplings made with meat bought from local businesses like Cliff's Meat Market in Carrboro and often offers discounts to people who show receipts from local businesses, she said.

Will & Pops food trucks was kicked out of Chapel Hill last summer, before the town adopted rules for food trucks, but says they won't return.

"The fees are exorbitant," said Carol Edenton, who runs the truck with Will Pettis and his father.

Jonathan Richelson plans to open his food truck, Sympathy for the Deli, next month. The truck will feature original smoked deli meats and sandwiches. With Chapel Hill's high fees, he won't be able to park his truck there in the beginning. He'll probably start in Durham or Carrboro, he said.

"I'm glad they've allowed food trucks," he said. "It's better than having it banned completely, [but] it makes Durham and Carrboro even more appealing to work in."