Riverside, CA Street Vending: Vendor Permits (2026)

California Senate Bill 946 (codified at Government Code Sections 51036-51039) legalized sidewalk vending statewide and restricts how cities may regulate it. Riverside adopted Chapter 5.94 of the Municipal Code to comply. Every sidewalk vendor in Riverside must apply for a sidewalk vendor permit through the Finance Department, provide a California seller's permit number (CDTFA), a tax identification number, and certification from the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health for any food sales. A vendor cannot be required to operate from a fixed commercial location, and the city cannot ban sidewalk vending outright. Violations of Chapter 5.94 are punishable only by administrative fines: a first offense is up to $100, second is up to $200, third up to $500 within a year, and vending without a permit triggers a separate schedule up to $1,000. Under Government Code 51039, a vendor may request an ability-to-pay determination that may reduce a fine by up to 80 percent. Fines cannot be converted into misdemeanor or infraction convictions. The city may revoke or deny a permit for repeated serious violations, but must provide a notice-and-appeal procedure.