Los Angeles County street entrepreneurs and vendors have been granted a legal framework for the first time with the LA County Board of Supervisors giving the green light for an official Sidewalk Vending Ordinance, aiming to bring structure to the unincorporated areas of the region, as reported on February 6th by LA County government’s website.

The ordinance, which is slated to take effect in August 2024, cribs from the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act of 2019 that decriminalized the trade in California, allowing for local oversight, it introduces a Sidewalk Vending Registration Certificate complete with rules and an initial waived fee followed by a $100 renewal cost, designed to streamline operations while upholding public health and safety codes, and it features enforcement strategies centering on cooperation over punishment, however, details regarding penalties for non-adherence to the program were not immediately available.

Key elements of this new regulation include set parameters for where and when vendors can conduct business, the sale of goods, and waste management, Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis highlighted the significance of the program by stating, "Sidewalk food vending is a critical part of the cultural and civic fabric of our County," she emphasized the support for the local microentrepreneurial spirit by waiving fees for the first year to encourage compliance with health and safety standards.

Supervisor Holly Mitchell expressed her support, remarking on the importance of such a pathway for vendors who often represented women of color and low-income groups in the past these vendors have significantly contributed to the local economy by offering affordable and culturally diverse options through the County's new Sidewalk Vending Program overseen by LA County’s Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), which also incorporates a care-first approach to enforcement prioritizing education and compliance.

For those interested in venturing into the new open-air marketplace, the DEO Office of Small Business is ready to assist with various support services at its East LA Entrepreneur Center, details about the program and registration information can be obtained in person, via phone at (844) 432-4900, or by emailing [email protected], as the County enacts this pivot towards a more inclusive economic strategy.