The City of Santa Clarita is set to vote to formally oppose a bill that would decriminalize street vendors and require licensing of the practice at their Tuesday meeting.

Senate Bill 946, a bill that would create a licensing program for all street vendors and sidewalk food sellers, would preempt local authority related to sidewalk vendors, according to officials.

The language in the bill stipulates that local authorities, such as the city of Santa Clarita, would be required to adopt a sidewalk vending licensing program, which includes requiring the sidewalk vendor to possess a valid business and California Department of Tax and Fee Administration seller’s permit license.

“A sidewalk vendor is anyone who sells food or merchandise from a pushcart, stand, display, pedal-driven cart or other non-motorized conveyance upon a sidewalk or other pedestrian path,” according to the Senate bill.

The local authority’s licensing program is required to follow specific standards, including the location of a licensed sidewalk vendor may not be restricted unless the restriction is directly related to objective health, safety or welfare concerns.

Also, the overall number of sidewalk vendor licenses issued may not be restricted unless the restriction is directly related to objective health, safety or welfare concerns, based on the California Retail Food Code of local enforcement agency.

Additionally, sidewalk vendors may not be prohibited from selling food or merchandise in a public park.

This would allow local sidewalk vendors to sell their product at any Santa Clarita event that goes on in the local parks, including during the annual Concerts in the Park concert series.

The city of Santa Clarita currently maintains a policy that prohibits street vendors in any public right-of-way, unless granted a special or temporary license by city officials.

“This bill would preempt the city’s local ordinance related to street vendors and would
require the City to adopt a sidewalk vending licensing system that would permit sidewalk
vendors in the public right-of-way and public parks,” the City Council agenda said.

On May 8, the City Council Legislative Committee met and recommends that the City Council adopt and “oppose” Senate bill 946.

Because the bill is being passed at a state level, Santa Clarita cannot exempt itself from issuing the permits without risking legal backlash. Any vote taken about the issue will be purely symbolic. The council is expected to vote on the issue May 22.

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