For Residents
Establishing an LA County Sidewalk Vending Ordinance and providing a legal pathway through a County-led permitting process for street vendors
Overview
The L.A. County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), in partnership with local community-based organizations, will establish a County Sidewalk Vending Ordinance and a County-led permitting process in effort to provide a legal pathway to street vending in unincorporated LA County. This initiative is prompted by the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act (SB 946), passed in 2019 to decriminalize street vending throughout the State of California and to allow local authorities to develop guidelines and infrastructure to formalize the street vending industry.
DEO only regulates sidewalk vending in the unincorporated areas of LA County. If you are vending in any of the 88 cities, please refer to your local jurisdictional Sidewalk Vending authority for more information on compliance in your city. Find a listing of local city street vending programs here.
How to report a problem with street vending activity
Step One: Find Your Sidewalk Vending Jurisdiction
Check your location with your home address using the Registrar Recorder’s Precinct Maps or a local business address near your street vending activity using the Treasurer and Tax Collector District Locator.
Step Two: Report a Sidewalk Vending Problem
Report a food truck or cart activity operating in the unincorporated area of LA County, call the Office of Small Business at 323-208-9019 or email osb@opportunity.lacounty.gov. Please include details about the problem, exact location of the sales, types of items sold, day and times of operations, and a description of the vendor is doing in your report.
State Legislation on Sidewalk Vending
In September 2018, then Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 946, which is also known as the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act. This law decriminalizes sidewalk vending in California and allows local authorities to adopt non-criminal laws to protect public health, safety and welfare.
In September 2022, Governor Newsom sign California Senate Bill 972 (SB 972) modifying the California Retail Food Code to promote economic inclusion while modernizing the CRFC so that sidewalk food vendors can obtain a permit and join the regulated vending economy.
Contact LA County’s Office of Small Business
Visit the Office of Small Business M-F from 8:30am to 4:30am at 4716 E. Cesar E. Chavez, Los Angeles 90022!