In an effort to provide equal access to economic opportunity, the California Legislature wrote the safe sidewalk vending act, Senate Bill (SB) 946, Sidewalk Vendors. The bill was signed by the Governor in September, 2018 and was effective January 1, 2019. The intent of SB 946 is to promote economic opportunities to low-income and immigrant communities and prevent cities from prohibiting sidewalk vendors based on perceived community animus or economic competition. It set limitations upon the ability of local jurisdictions to regulate “Sidewalk Vendors” unless, primarily, directly related to an objective public health, safety, or welfare concern. Furthermore, local jurisdictions were only allowed to set up regulations that were tied to time, place, and manner of sidewalk vending.

A sidewalk vendor is a person who sells food and/or merchandise from a pushcart, stand, display, pedal-driven cart, wagon, showcase, rack, or other non-motorized conveyance, or from one’s person, upon a public sidewalk or other pedestrian path.

“Roaming sidewalk vendor” means a sidewalk vendor who moves from place-to-place and stops only to complete a transaction.

“Stationary sidewalk vendor” means a sidewalk vendor who vends from a fixed location.

As provided in California Government Code Sections 51039(a)(1), the following schedule of administrative fines is adopted for a violation of Chapter 5.54 by a sidewalk vendor who has a current and valid Sidewalk Vending Permit issued by the City:

• An administrative fine not exceeding $100 for a first violation;
• An administrative fine not exceeding $200 for a second violation within one year of the first violation; and
• An administrative fine not exceeding $500 for each additional violation within one year of the first violation.

As provided in California Government Code Sections 51039(a)(3)(A), the following schedule of administrative fines is adopted for a violation of Chapter 5.54 by any person engaged in sidewalk vending without a current and valid Sidewalk Vending Permit issued by the City:

• An administrative fine not exceeding $250 for a first violation;
• An administrative fine not exceeding $500 for a second violation within one year of the first violation; and
• An administrative fine not exceeding $1,000 for each additional violation within one year of the first violation.

On July 25, 2023, the City passed and adopted Ordinance No 09-23 providing for the legal authority for impoundment of items related to sidewalk vendors.

• Grounds for impoundment - brief summary:
  • O.M.C. 5.54.160.A.1: Vending food without a valid and displayed health permit.
  • O.M.C. 5.54.160.A.2: Items reasonably appear to be unattended or abandoned on public or private property for 30 minutes.
  • O.M.C. 5.54.160.A.3: Vending items without a Sidewalk Vending Permit and City Business License.
  • O.M.C. 5.54.160.A.4: Vendor operates in violation of O.M.C. 5.54; refuses or fails to provide identification.
  • O.M.C. 5.54.160.A.5: Vendor operates in violation of O.M.C. 5.54; and refuses or fails to remove items within 30 minutes.
  • O.M.C. 5.54.160.A.6: Vendor is blocking or obstructing the sidewalk; not maintaining min. 48 inches of accessible path of travel.
  • O.M.C. 5.54.160.A.7: Items in violation of any applicable federal, state, county or City laws, ordinances, and regulations.
  • O.M.C. 5.54.160.A.8: Vendor is creating an imminent and substantial danger or environmental hazard.
  • O.M.C. 5.54.160.A.9: Vendor has been cited three or more times with violating O.M.C. 5.54 within 24-months.
  • O.M.C. 5.54.160.A.10: Items are evidence of a crime or booked as property after an arrest.
  • O.M.C. 5.54.160.B:  Vendor identified as a Repeat Offender; contacted 2 or more times in violation of O.M.C. 5.54.
• PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT ITEMS THAT ARE PERISHABLE AND/OR CANNOT BE STORED SAFELY WILL BE DISPOSED IMMEDIATELY.
• Impoundment Holding period is either 30 days or 60 days.
• Retrieve impounded items after the impoundment holding period requires payment of $710.00.
• Right to Appeal impoundment action:
  • You may contest the decision to impound your items within 21 calendar days of the date of impoundment. Pursuant to O.M.C. Chapter 5.54, you have the right to contest the impoundment at a hearing before an independent hearing officer. To request an appeal hearing, complete a Request for Appeal and deliver or mail it, together with payment of the appeal hearing fee of $85.00 to:

    City of Orange

    Attn: City Clerk's Office

    300 Chapman Avenue, Orange, CA 92866

  • Your Request for Appeal and the appeal hearing fee must be received or postmarked within twenty-one (21) calendar days of the date that your items were impounded on this notice, or you lose your right to challenge the decision of the impoundment of your items by the City.

To apply for a sidewalk vending permit, you must have:

• All Sales: A California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) Seller’s Permit. Visit their website or call (949) 440-3473.
• Food Sales: A Public Health Permit from Orange County Health Care Agency - Environmental Health. Visit their website or call (714) 433-6000.
• Learn more about our Ordinance No. 03-23.

All sidewalk vendors in the City of Orange must have a business license. Apply for a business license online or call (714) 744-2270 if you have any questions.

To sell food and/or merchandise on public sidewalks either as a roaming sidewalk vendor or stationary sidewalk vendor, you must have a sidewalk vending permit from the Community Development Department’s Code Enforcement Division.

Below is an explanation of the forms you will need to submit in order to apply for the Sidewalk Vending Permit Program. Bring all required forms to 300 E. Chapman Avenue, Orange, CA during City Hall business hours and days. If you have any questions, please call (714) 744-7244. 

• Form A - Applicant: This form applies to any person who will be solely responsible for the Sidewalk Vending Permit.
  • If that person is employed or engaged by another individual or a business or will use a sidewalk vending cart owned by another individual or a business, then they must also submit Form B. All applicants must be at least eighteen (18) years of age or older.

• Form B - Business Owner Addendum: If the applicant is an agent of an individual, company, partnership, corporation, or other entity who owns the business and/or the sidewalk vending cart, you must submit this form as well.

• Form C - Employee Addendum: Any person who will be employed by the applicant to work as a stationary sidewalk vendor or a roaming sidewalk vendor must submit this form.

• Form D - Special Request Addendum: Any applicant who is making a special request for shade structure / umbrella, generator, portable sign(s) and/or portable cooking equipment or heating elements as part of their sidewalk vending activity must submit this form.

Applicable Fees

• An Application Permit Fee of $645 per vending cart shall be required for an application for a Sidewalk Vending Permit.
• An Employee Application Permit Fee of $169 per employee shall be required of all person(s) who will be employed by the applicant for a Sidewalk Vending Permit who will work as a stationary or roaming sidewalk vendor.
• A Sidewalk Vending Permit Change of Information Fee of $169 shall be imposed when any applicant who has been issued a Sidewalk Vender Permit changes any information as provided in the application or Chapter 5.54.

Para vender alimentos y/o mercancía en las banquetas públicas, ya sea como vendedor ambulante o vendedor estacionario, usted debe tener un Permiso de Venta Ambulante de la División de Cumplimiento del Código del Departamento de Desarrollo Comunitario.

A continuación hay una explicación de los formularios que deberá presentar para solicitar el Programa de Permiso de Venta Ambulante. Lleve todos los formularios requeridos a 300 E. Chapman Avenue, Orange, CA durante el horario y los días hábiles de la municipalidad. Si tiene alguna pregunta, llame al (714) 744-7244.

• Formulario A - Solicitante: Este formulario se aplica a cualquier persona que será el único responsable del Permiso de Venta Ambulante.
  • Si dicha persona está empleada o contratada por otra persona o empresa, o utilizará un carrito de venta que es propiedad de otra persona o empresa, también debe presentar el Formulario B. Todos los solicitantes deben tener al menos dieciocho (18) años de edad o más viejo.

• Formulario B - Apéndice de Propietario de Negocio: Si el solicitante es un agente de una persona, empresa, sociedad, corporación u otra entidad propietaria del negocio y/o del carrito de venta ambulante, también debe presentar este formulario.
• Formulario C - Apéndice del Empleado: Cualquier persona que será empleada por el solicitante para trabajar como vendedor ambulante estacionario o vendedor ambulante debe presentar este formulario.

• Formulario D - Apéndice de Solicitud Especial: Cualquier solicitante que realice una solicitud especial de estructura de sombra/sombrilla, generador, letreros portátiles y/o equipo de cocina portátil o elementos de calefacción como parte de su actividad de venta ambulante debe presentar este formulario.

Tarifas Aplicables

• Se requerirá una tarifa de $645 por carrito de venta.
• Se requerirá una tarifa de $ 169 por cada persona que será empleada por el solicitante que trabajará como vendedor ambulante.
• Se impondrá un cargo por cambio de información del permiso de venta ambulante de $169 cuando cualquier solicitante al que se le haya emitido un permiso de vendedor ambulante cambie la información proporcionada en la solicitud o en el Capítulo 5.54.