City of Coachella Sidewalk Vendor: What you need to know

Sidewalk Vendor Definitions

• SIDEWALK VENDOR means a person who sells food or merchandise from a pushcart, stand, display, pedal-driven cart, wagon, showcase, rack, or other nonmotorized conveyance, or from one’s person, upon a public sidewalk or other pedestrian path.
• ROAMING SIDEWALK VENDOR means a sidewalk vendor who moves from place to place and stops only to complete a transaction.
• STATIONARY SIDEWALK VENDOR means a sidewalk vendor who vends from a fixed location.
• PUSHCART means any wagon, cart or similar wheeled container, not a “vehicle” as defined in the Vehicle Code of the State of California, from which food or beverage is offered for sale to the public

Permit Requirements

No person shall act as a sidewalk vendor, nor employ, direct or otherwise cause any other person to do so, without having first obtained a SIDEWALK VENDOR’S PERMIT.

FOOD VENDOR REQUIREMENTS: All vendors selling food or beverages are required to obtain a County of Riverside Health Permit and must follow all County Health Code requirements.

PERMIT APPLICATION: Click here to access the application for a Sidewalk Vendor’s Permit.

Sidewalk Vendor Rules & Regulations

1. No sidewalk vendor shall be located in a fixed location on any residential street, including parkways or sidewalks. Sales may be made on residential streets from roaming sidewalk vendors
2. No sidewalk vendor shall be located in any location that creates an obstruction to the normal flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic or to the access to public streets and sidewalks, or that creates a hazard to life or property.
3. No sidewalk vendor shall be located in any location that obstructs traffic signals or regulatory signs.
4. No sidewalk vendor shall be located within 10 feet of any fire hydrant or escape, or within 25 feet of any vehicle entrance of any fire station, police department, hospital, or any other structure involved in health and safety emergency matters.
5. No sidewalk vendor shall be located within 10 feet of any loading zone, bus stop, or parking space or access ramp designated for persons with disabilities.
6. Sidewalk vendors shall maintain an unobstructed three-foot walking path at all times
7. Sidewalk vending shall be prohibited adjacent to any portion of the curb designated as a passenger, commercial, or school loading zone via signage and/or curb markings. Distance from driveways (15ft) & AA ramps(40FT).
8. Sidewalk vending is prohibited in the center median of any street. 
9. Sidewalk vending is prohibited within 150 feet of an area designated for a temporary special permit, provided that any notice, business interruption mitigation, or other rights provided to affected businesses or property owners under the temporary special permit are also provided to any sidewalk vendors specifically permitted to operate in the area, if applicable.

How to Apply

Permitted Hours

ROAMING SIDEWALK VENDORS (Residential Zones)

7:00am – 6:00pm

ROAMING & STATIONARY SIDEWALK VENDORS (Non-Residential Zones)

5:00am – 11:00pm 

SIDEWALK VENDING is PROHIBITED AT THE FOLLOWING PARKS:

• Bagdouma Park
• Rancho Las Flores

SEE ANY UNPERMITTED VENDING OR OTHER ISSUES?

Code Enforcement: (760) 398-4978

Other issues, Economic Development: (760) 262-6268

Riverside County Health Department: (760) 863-8287

For more information, contact the Economic Development Department at econdev@coachella.org