Street vendor permits in Los Angeles, CA — sometimes called sidewalk vendor licenses, mobile vendor permits, or peddler permits — are the licenses required to sell goods or food on public property.
Under LAMC §42.13 and California SB 946 (Safe Sidewalk Vending Act), anyone selling food or merchandise on LA sidewalks or in city parks must obtain a Sidewalk & Park Vending Permit from the Bureau of Street Services (StreetsLA). SB 946 decriminalized street vending statewide in 2018, limiting cities to health-safety-welfare regulations only. Permits are non-transferable and must be displayed while vending.
LAMC §42.13 establishes the City of Los Angeles Sidewalk and Park Vending Program, implementing the requirements of California SB 946 (2018) and SB 972. SB 946, the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act, decriminalized street vending throughout California and limits municipal regulation to matters of health, safety, and welfare. A sidewalk vendor is defined as a person who sells merchandise or food from a pushcart, stand, display, pedal-driven cart, wagon, showcase, rack, or other non-motorized conveyance on a sidewalk or pedestrian path. Both stationary and roaming vendors must obtain permits. Food vendors must additionally hold a valid County Health Permit. The Bureau of Street Services (StreetsLA) administers the vending permit program. Permits are non-transferable, must be visibly displayed while vending, and must be renewed annually. Vending is prohibited within certain distances of certified farmers' markets during operating hours and near schools during school hours without written permission.
First violation: written warning only (per SB 946, no criminal penalties). Subsequent violations: administrative fines up to $250 for second offense, $500 for third within one year. Operating without a health permit: separate County enforcement. City cannot impose criminal penalties for vending without a permit under SB 946.
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