Vending Zones: Castro Valley vs San Leandro
How do vending zones rules compare between Castro Valley, CA and San Leandro, CA?
Castro Valley has fewer restrictions than San Leandro.
Castro Valley, CA
Alameda County
California's Safe Sidewalk Vending Act (SB 946) preempts most local bans on sidewalk vending, allowing only objective health, safety, and welfare regulations.
View full Castro Valley rules →San Leandro, CA
Alameda County
SLMC Ch. 4-34 and the city's Planning policy limit mobile food vending to specific zoning districts. Vendors must keep 300 feet from existing eating places and 500 feet from schools during school hours; the City's Zoning Ordinance may prohibit vending entirely in some districts.
View full San Leandro rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Castro Valley | San Leandro |
|---|---|---|
| Statute | Gov Code 51036-51039 | - |
| Outright bans | Preempted | - |
| Enforcement | Administrative only | - |
| Companion law | SB 972 (2022) | - |
| Zoning gate | - | Vending allowed only in districts permitted by the Zoning Ordinance |
| Restaurant buffer | - | 300 ft from any eating establishment |
| School buffer | - | 500 ft (30 min before/after school day) |
| ROW time limit | - | 5 hours in any one location |
| Sidewalk encroachment | - | Prohibited — no part of truck/equipment/queue may block sidewalk |
| Private property | - | Planning Temporary Use Permit required |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Castro Valley FAQ
Can a California city ban sidewalk vending?
No. SB 946 prohibits categorical bans. Cities may regulate time, place, and manner with objective rules tied to health, safety, and welfare, but cannot ban vending across the city.
Can I be arrested for sidewalk vending without a permit?
No. SB 946 requires enforcement to be civil administrative citations only. Criminal penalties against unlicensed sidewalk vendors are preempted by state law.
San Leandro FAQ
Where can I get a list of allowed districts?
Contact the San Leandro Planning Division at 510-577-3325 or planner@sanleandro.org. The Zoning Ordinance determines which districts allow mobile food vending.
Are downtown food truck pods allowed?
Special events (e.g., 'Off the Grid' style pods) require a separate Temporary Use Permit and event permit even if individual trucks already have city Mobile Food Vending permits.
Do the 300/500-foot buffers apply on private property too?
Yes — Chapter 4-34's distance restrictions apply citywide, not just to right-of-way operations.
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