Street vendors score a big win in Sacramento. Newsom signs new law that protects them

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On Friday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill to modernize state code and regulations surrounding street vending. Senate Bill 972 is a landmark law designed to make it easier for vendors to sell food on streets throughout the state. Long Beach state Sen. Lena Gonzalez authored SB 972, which is a massive update to the California Retail Food Code. The bill offers a more streamlined path to acquiring a permit and prohibits criminal penalties from health departments or law enforcement.

In 2018, former Gov. Jerry Brown signed the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act that decriminalized street vending. However, the bill required that street food vendors have equipment more in line with food trucks and catering businesses than pushcart operations, like fresh fruit or taco stands. Over the last year, street food vendors faced uncertain futures as the 20-year-old El Salvador Corridor street food market closed and city officials shut down the Avenue 26 night market in Lincoln Heights.

The legislation streamlines the permit process. Cart requirements are more reasonable, and vendors that sell fruit can now slice produce on site and taco carts can reheat food. Also, vendors that need commissary kitchen space for preparations can now use places like churches and schools instead of having to rent out parts of a professional kitchen. Most importantly, by allowing vendors to operate legally, it welcomes these workers into the formal economy.

The law goes into effect January 1, 2023, and the regulations are expected to be fully updated by 2024.