There is no catch. Los Angeles County has added 30 food carts and expanded financial assistance for sidewalk vendors. There is a process to getting this free cart. Here’s who may qualify, which grants are available and what it takes to start selling food legally.
For someone selling food on a Los Angeles sidewalk, getting a free cart could make a big difference. Equipment can be expensive, especially when vendors are already paying for ingredients, supplies and everyday business costs.
But can they start selling right away? Will the county cover permits? What about storage or food preparation?
Those questions are key as Los Angeles County adds 30 carts designed to cook raw ingredients on-site, bringing its planned inventory to 341.
The county is also offering financial assistance. But not everyone qualifies for the same benefits, and some expenses remain the vendor’s responsibility.
What’s different about the new food carts?
When Los Angeles County introduced its free food cart program earlier this year, the equipment was designed for specific foods, including cut fruit, packaged ice cream and prepared foods kept hot or reheated.
The new raw-to-cooked cart allows vendors to store, handle and cook approved raw ingredients, including certain meats, on-site.
For vendors preparing food fresh, that’s an important difference. A cart approved to reheat precooked food cannot necessarily cook raw ingredients.
The new model includes ventilation, temperature controls and washing equipment. Vendors still need county public health approval for their menu and operation.
Applications opened October 13, ahead of the county’s October 16 announcement.
Who can qualify for a free cart?
The program is intended for existing sidewalk food vendors. According to county materials, applicants generally must:
- Be at least 18 and live in Los Angeles County.
- Operate a self-employed sidewalk food business in unincorporated Los Angeles County or the City of Los Angeles.
- Have at least 12 months of vending experience.
- Meet a $75,000 gross annual household-income limit.
- Meet documentation and other program requirements.
The $75,000 limit refers to household income, not just money earned selling food.
City of Los Angeles applicants may also need to document COVID-19-related business impacts because of the program’s funding rules.
Meeting the requirements does not guarantee a cart. Distribution depends on eligibility and available equipment.
Can vendors also receive $5,000?
Some can, depending on their location and cart model.
Eligible vendors in unincorporated Los Angeles County may qualify for a $5,000 grant after receiving a conditional award for a cut-fruit, hot-holding, cold-holding or integrated-grill cart.
The new raw-to-cooked cart is excluded from that $5,000 grant.
The county says qualifying raw-to-cooked recipients may receive a separate, smaller grant for permitting and operating expenses, but its October announcement does not specify the amount.
Vendors should confirm which assistance applies before counting on grant money.
What expenses will vendors still face?
A free cart doesn’t automatically mean a business is ready to open.
Vendors need a Compact Mobile Food Operation (CMFO) health permit and the appropriate sidewalk vending authorization for their location.
Unincorporated county vendors generally need a county Sidewalk Vending Registration Certificate. Vendors in the City of Los Angeles must follow the city’s separate permit requirements.
Other requirements may include a California seller’s permit, food-handler certification, menu approval and health inspections.
Then come practical questions: Where will the cart be stored? How will it be transported? Does the business need an approved facility for preparing food, cleaning equipment or storing supplies?
That facility, called a commissary, may be required depending on the food operation.
The county provides assistance with these steps, but not every expense is necessarily covered.
What about the 75% permit subsidy?
The county also offers a separate subsidy covering up to 75% of certain CMFO health-permit expenses for qualifying vendors.
Its requirements include operating in eligible unincorporated areas, meeting a $50,000 gross annual business-revenue limit and completing required training.
This part is important: The cart program uses household income, while the separate permit subsidy uses business revenue.
Qualifying for one doesn’t automatically mean qualifying for the other.
How does the application process work?
Vendors can apply through the county’s Sidewalk Vending Cart Program website.
Applicants undergo eligibility review. Those conditionally approved must complete required workshops, paperwork, permits, transportation and storage arrangements, and health inspections before receiving equipment.
The county estimates eligibility notifications within two to four weeks. The broader process can take up to eight weeks, although timelines aren’t guaranteed.
Applications are scored monthly. A lottery may be used when equally qualified applicants compete for limited carts. Unselected applications may remain under consideration while equipment is available.
Before you apply: What vendors should check
Your menu: Make sure the cart is approved for the food you plan to prepare.
Your location: City and unincorporated county requirements differ, especially for grants.
Your income: Check household-income and business-revenue requirements separately.
Your remaining costs: Ask about permits, transportation, storage, commissary arrangements and other expenses.
Your next steps: A conditional cart award isn’t permission to begin selling.
For help, contact the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity’s Office of Small Business at 844-432-4900 or sidewalkvending@opportunity.lacounty.gov.
For vendors who qualify, a free cart could remove a major business expense. But before applying, they need to know whether the equipment fits their menu, which financial assistance they can receive and what it will cost to begin operating legally.
A free cart can help someone get started. Understanding the remaining expenses can help them decide whether they’re ready.
