Propane-fueled food trucks are now officially allowed to operate in downtown Houston.

Mayor Annise Parker announced in August that she intended to lift a longstanding ban on food trucks in the downtown business district, letting the trendy operations use propane tanks weighing up to 60 pounds.

"We're a foodie destination," she said. "We ought to make sure that we do things that allow food innovation to take place."

It's a familar issue at City Council. Staff broached removing the downtown ban, as well as loosening some other food truck regulations, back in 2012. It proved contentious and proposed changes were tabled.

In August, Parker said she did not need to go through council to allow mobile food units downtown, citing a fire marshal opinion that propane tanks up to 60 pounds are safe.

At the time, Sustainability Director Laura Spanjian said the trucks would be allowed downtown when revisions to the city's retail food establishment code passed council sometime in September. Those revisions include a change that would allow food trucks to use nearby tables and chairs, like bar patios.

Parker, however, decided there was no need to wait on the retail food code changes, which have yet to go to council, Spanjian said.

Another proposed change to food truck regulations will go to council at the end of the year, potentially eliminating the need for 60 feet of space between trucks.

While the city's booming foodie community has rallied behind the loosened regulations, the powerful Greater Houston Restauarant Association opposes them. GHRA President Reginald Martin said last month the changes would present "major challenges" for small brick-and-mortar restaurants.

Parker invited several popular food trucks downtown for lunch Friday to announce the change, which went into effect Sept. 19.