San Francisco, CA Street Vending: Vending Zones (2026)

San Francisco's street vending location restrictions are set by Public Works Code Article 5.9 and administered by the Department of Public Works. Stationary vendors cannot operate in exclusively residentially zoned areas. Vending locations must provide a minimum 6-foot clear pedestrian path on the sidewalk. Vendors must maintain clearances from bus stops, Muni shelters, fire hydrants, building entrances, and crosswalks. Permits specify approved locations, and vendors may not relocate without amending their permit. Popular vending districts include the Financial District, Fisherman's Wharf, Union Square area, and along Market Street. The Tenderloin and SOMA districts have additional enforcement considerations. Mobile food facility zones are designated separately under Public Works Code Article 5.8, with specific rules for food trucks and pushcarts. SFMTA manages metered parking spaces that food trucks may use. Vending is generally prohibited in city parks without a separate Recreation and Parks permit. Street fairs and farmers markets operate under special event permits with their own vendor allocation rules.