Los Angeles street vendors accused of operating outside city rules will no longer face criminal citations from police, a shift that critics say gives unpermitted vendors an advantage over traditional brick-and-mortar businesses.
Mayor Karen Bass’ office told the California Post on Thursday that she “stands firmly with street vendors” and has instructed the Los Angeles Police Department to stop issuing criminal citations in vending cases.
“Street vending is a quintessential part of L.A.’s world-class food scene and a livelihood for thousands of hardworking Angelenos. Supporting L.A.’s street vendors is more important than ever given ongoing attacks by ICE,” the mayor’s office said.
City officials are also moving to clear criminal citations they say were issued improperly, according to Bass’ office, so vendors are “not left with criminal records for working to provide for their families.”
The policy change comes as thousands of Angelenos continue selling food, drinks and other goods from sidewalks, particularly around large public events. The recently concluded 2026 World Cup drew scores of street vendors across Los Angeles, and the 2028 Olympics are expected to bring millions more visitors — along with the possibility of even more unpermitted vending — to the city.
Roughly 50,000 street vendors are estimated to operate across Los Angeles. Yet as of September 2024, the city had just 687 active vending permits on record, and only 53 of those were issued to food vendors.
Under Los Angeles rules, street vendors must secure a Sidewalk & Park Vending Permit before selling food or merchandise on city sidewalks or inside city parks.
Those permits must be renewed every year. Food vendors face additional requirements, including a Los Angeles County Public Health permit, a California seller’s permit and a city Business Tax Registration Certificate, according to the L.A. Bureau of Street Services.
Vendors can be cited for operating without the required permits or for violating rules governing where and how they operate, including certain sidewalk, safety and food-handling requirements.
A criminal citation — issued by LAPD — differs from an administrative or health citation.
Under California law and L.A.’s vending rules, vendors generally face fines — not arrest or jail — for local violations, while Health Department citations, not under Bass’s jurisdiction, typically address food safety and sanitation issues.
The move has angered permitted vendors, who say they are being forced to shoulder costs and regulations that operators without permits can avoid.
Anthony D’Eugenio, owner of Big Dix’s Hot Dogs — a licensed food vendor — blasted Bass’ decision as “shameful” and a slap in the face to vendors who follow the rules.
“Bass is pandering to stay in office,” D’Eugenio, who has operated his West Hollywood cart for five years, told The Post. “Why is it that only brick and mortars have to abide by high scrutiny?”
D’Eugenio, 55, said he pays $750 annually for his permit on top of costs for a business license, insurance, tax permits and a commissary.
“They punish hardworking people and reward criminals,” he said.
D’Eugenio called the policy “insulting” and suggested the restaurant industry consider suing the city.
“It’s insulting to me when somebody right across the street from me does what I do and charges more money than I do with complete immunity,” he said.
Bass’ embrace of the vendors puts her at odds with Councilwoman Nithya Raman, her political opponent in the mayoral race.
Raman has argued that the city should make it easier for vendors to obtain permits and enter the legal system rather than leaving large numbers of operators outside it.
“I think we need to make sure it’s easy for people to get these permits,” she said.
D’Eugenio, however, said Raman’s efforts to work with vendors on permitting gave Bass an opportunity to go even further.
“Nithya Raman got a spot engaging with street vendors about getting them certified, so Bass one-upped her by saying, ‘We’re not going to issue citations,’” D’Eugenio said. “This is all politically driven at hardworking people’s expense — not theirs, the merchants.”
