Under California SB 946, Ontario cannot ban sidewalk vendors citywide but regulates time, place, and manner through OMC Chapter 5, with no vending in parks during events or within 15 feet of curb cuts for ADA access.
California Senate Bill 946 (the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act, codified at Government Code 51036-51039) preempts local bans on sidewalk vending. Ontario regulates sidewalk and mobile vending through Ontario Municipal Code Chapter 5, which limits time, place, and manner consistent with SB 946. Vendors must hold a City business license plus a San Bernardino County Environmental Health food permit if selling food. Vending is restricted within 15 feet of accessible curb cuts, bus stops, fire hydrants, driveways, and transit shelters, and is prohibited within 500 feet of an active permitted special event (such as Ontario Convention Center programs). Certified farmers markets and swap meets have separate rules under Food and Agricultural Code 47000. Sidewalk vendors cannot block the required 4-foot ADA pedestrian passage under the California Building Code. Non-criminal administrative citations are the enforcement mechanism per SB 946, escalating from 100 dollars to 500 dollars for repeat violations.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Ontario, CA
Outdoor music is regulated under OMC Title 5 Chapter 29 and the special-event permit process. Venues and events with amplified sound need a city permit; resi...
Ontario, CA
Aircraft noise from Ontario International Airport (ONT) is regulated by the FAA, not the city. ONT runs an FAA Part 150 noise compatibility program; federal ...
Ontario, CA
Ontario requires a building permit for masonry walls and any fence over 7 feet under the California Building Code. Retaining walls over 4 feet also require p...
Ontario, CA
Ontario fence requirements include zoning-based heights, setbacks, sight triangles, buffer walls on industrial edges, and CBC structural standards. Pool, ret...
Ontario, CA
Ontario limits residential fence heights under the Development Code. Typical maximums are 6 feet rear/side, 3 feet front, and 42 inches in sight-distance tri...
Ontario, CA
Ontario requires dogs to be leashed off-property under OMC Title 6. Maximum leash length is 6 feet, with owner control required in all public spaces except d...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in San Bernardino County.
See how other cities in San Bernardino County handle vending zones.
See how Ontario's vending zones rules stack up against other locations.
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