HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Finding late-night eats in Huntsville just got a lot easier.

Beginning as early as next week, food trucks will be able to set up on both sides of Clinton Avenue from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. They will also be allowed in a city-owned gravel lot on Cleveland Avenue across from A.M. Booth's Lumberyard.

The Huntsville City Council OK'd the new rules at its meeting Thursday night.

Andrew Judge of the Sugar Belle cupcake truck said he's excited about selling downtown but wishes there was more than one hour of overlap with the city's new arts and entertainment districts, which run from 5-10 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays.

People coming downtown on entertainment district nights "can walk around consuming alcohol, but they can't grab food quickly to eat," Judge told the council.

Marie Bostick, the city's planning and zoning manager, said the 9 p.m. food truck start time is intended to limit competition with sit-down restaurants and keep from tying up on-street parking spaces needed by downtown businesses and entertainment district patrons.

Each truck will take up two parallel parking spaces on Clinton Avenue, she said.

Bostick said Washington Street, which is undergoing a $2 million facelift that includes new sidewalks, street lamps and public art, will eventually be added to the food truck zone.

Councilman Bill Kling said food trucks serve a different "niche" than brick-and-mortar restaurants downtown and should have the opportunity to sell before 9 p.m.

"Let's keep our eyes open and see if there's a way that can be done," said Kling. "I think these (food trucks) could be great things to really revitalize downtown."

Under the ordinance approved Thursday, food truck owners will have to buy a $100 annual city permit and follow a few basic rules, including having customers line up on the sidewalk rather than in the street.