Redwood City looks to update street vending rules

Updates to the code will largely be to align with state law and county enforcement practices, but can also include regulations on when, where and the manner in which vending can occur for the sake of public safety, Economic Development Manager Amanda Anthony said. 

State law has been updated in recent years largely to decriminalize street vending, Anthony said. Rather than criminal punishments for permit or health violations, enforcement typically includes administrative penalties, she said. 

Mobile vending also includes the sale of goods or services, other than just food. Each type of mobile vending operation, and the vehicle it’s sold from whether it’s motorized on public streets or nonmotorized and on sidewalks, requires different permitting. 

Complaints have been made to the city over unpermitted food vendors and unsafe food practices, including open flames under a pop-up canopy or nonsecure propane tanks. 

Anthony noted that enforcement is largely at the hands of the Redwood City Police Department, and is a complaint-driven process. This means responses are reliant on staffing and priorities at the time. 

While enforcement challenges are present, regardless of what kind of mobile vending is occurring, Anthony said the city errs on the side of education and leading vendors toward compliance, rather than issuing citations. 

“While we’re supportive of entrepreneurship, the entrepreneurs still need a permit,” Councilmember Jeff Gee said.  

Some restrictions may be considered in an updated ordinance regarding the hours of operation vendors are allowed to work. 

Currently, motorized vendors are free to operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., which starts earlier than general noise ordinances in the city, and nonmotorized vendors are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., which is overly restrictive, Anthony said. 

Public comments were made regarding the nuisance of some street vendors to residential neighborhoods, including littering and late hours of operation. One small business owner shared her frustrations with the fact that many vendors operate without permits, while she makes sure to pay the annual fees and comply with all requirements. 

Councilmember Diane Howard said the current policies have ultimately “not been fair” to brick-and-mortar retailers because of the lack of enforcement to ensure street vendors are permitted to operate. 

Keeping in mind that street vendors are a critical cornerstone of her district — which includes the Friendly Acres neighborhood and borders North Fair Oaks, both homes to largely Latino populations — Councilmember Isabella Chu said updated ordinances must balance the needs of entrepreneurial residents without placing too harsh of restrictions on vendors. 

“If food trucks are doing well, that’s a revealed preference that people want them there,” Chu said. “So then, how do we accommodate that without driving the neighbors crazy?”

Chu added that she would like to see those “little carts turn into little storefronts” and hopes the city’s ordinance and economic mobility programs provide a “smooth on-ramp to prosperity.” 

Staff is slated to return to the City Council with an updated ordinance this summer.