L.A. City Council Seeks to Fix Gaps in Street Vending Program
The Los Angeles City Council is pushing for a comprehensive review of its street vending permitting system to address compliance issues and improve accessibility for vendors.
As of September 2024, the city's Bureau of Street Services reported only 687 active permits among vendors—53 food sellers and 634 merchandise vendors—a mere 1.4% of the estimated 50,000 street vendors operating in Los Angeles.
In a unanimous vote on February 5, the council directed the Bureau of Street Services, the Economic and Workforce Development Department, and the Chief Legislative Analyst to collaborate with county officials to develop a report on streamlining the process and improving enforcement.
A System in Need of Repair
This decision follows recent legal challenges that forced the city to revise its vending laws. In 2022, vendors Merlín Alvarado and Ruth Monroy, along with advocacy groups including Community Power Collective, East LA Community Corporation, and Inclusive Action for the City, sued Los Angeles over restrictions that allegedly violated SB 946, the 2018 state law legalizing sidewalk vending.
The lawsuit challenged the city's "no street vending zones", which had previously barred vendors from selling goods at major tourist attractions, including:
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Bowl
Dodger Stadium
LA Live/Crypto.com Arena
Universal Studios/CityWalk
El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument
Exposition Park
A 2024 settlement led the city to repeal these zones and refund fines issued to vendors. However, officials now face new challenges in ensuring proper permitting and enforcement.
City Seeks to Improve Outreach and Compliance
Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, who initiated the call for the report, acknowledged that the city is now playing catch-up to establish a more effective and equitable vending system. She hopes the city can reduce fees or simplify the permitting process to encourage more vendors to become compliant.
Councilmember Monica Rodriguez echoed the concern, stating that the city lacks a clear strategy for balancing regulation and enforcement, adding, “There is no consequence for not having permits.”
Currently, to obtain a city permit, vendors must:
Register for a city business tax certificate
Obtain a California Seller’s Permit
Pay a $27.51 city fee
Secure a Los Angeles County Public Health permit (for food vendors)
Permits must be renewed annually, but many vendors remain unregistered due to cost, bureaucratic hurdles, or a lack of information. In some cases, the city has even installed barriers and fencing to prevent unpermitted vending.
Balancing Business and Street Vending Rights
Councilmember John Lee emphasized the importance of fairness for all businesses, noting that brick-and-mortar store owners in his district have complained about vendors taking up parking spaces and competing with them unfairly.
"We have to make sure everyone plays by the same rules," Lee stated. "There cannot be different rules for certain businesses as opposed to others."
Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez acknowledged the city's struggles in managing vending laws, comparing them to L.A.’s challenges with housing policy.
"We couldn’t figure it out, so the state is figuring it out for us," Soto-Martinez said, referring to statewide policies overriding local restrictions on street vending.
Pilot Programs Aim to Provide Solutions
Since the 2024 settlement, several council members have tested new initiatives to help vendors comply with regulations.
In December, Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez launched the Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) Pilot Program, aimed at helping food vendors dispose of waste properly. The program introduced three industrial grease disposal containers along the Salvadoran Corridor on Vermont Avenue, providing a practical solution for vendors while ensuring compliance with environmental and health codes.
As Los Angeles seeks to refine its street vending policies, the upcoming report will be a key step in shaping a fairer, more functional system for both vendors and the broader community.
