Monrovia City Council to Consider Regulations for Street Vending

Image used for illustration only. – Courtesy photo / Robert Torzynski (CC BY 2.0)

All cities and counties in California are now required to allow sidewalk vendors to sell food and/or products from a mobile cart or from a stationary (but temporary) stand on any city sidewalk or in any city park. This new rule is based on the state approving Senate Bill SB 946.

In Monrovia, city staff is working on instituting limited regulations authorized by the State in order to help manage sidewalk/street vending activities in the community. On Jan. 15, 2019, the City Council will consider adopting Ordinance No. 2018-12, which would adopt sidewalk vending regulations for licensing and operating a sidewalk vending operation. If adopted, the city’s regulations will become effective Feb. 14.

Pursuant to Monrovia’s proposed regulations, if anyone is interested in selling food or products on the sidewalk or in a park, those individuals must first obtain a Monrovia business license, which will also require a valid Los Angeles County Department of Health Permit (if selling food), a California seller’s permit, and current liability insurance. The ordinance also restricts the hours of operations and the areas where sidewalk vending is permitted, pursuant to the following guidelines:

• Vendors with mobile carts may operate in residential areas between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. during the week and 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays while stationary vendors are not permitted in these areas.
• In commercial and industrial areas, vendors may operate during hours that are consistent with other businesses in the area.
• Vending will not be permitted in Canyon Park, the Hillside Wilderness Preserve or city parking lots, must maintain a certain distance from schools, intersections, driveways or any event operating with a city issued permit, including Friday Night Family Festival and Monrovia Days.

A summary of the city’s proposed sidewalk vending regulations has been developed, and that document can be viewed here.

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