Inyo County Municipal Code Ch. 12.22 Permitting for Mobile Vending on County Property

The board of supervisors of the County of Inyo recognizes that mobile vendors — such as those selling food, crafts, produce, or other items — provide a valuable service to the residents and visitors of Inyo County. The board further recognizes that the county owns or controls various locations that would allow for safe and effective mobile vending sites. The purpose of this chapter is to create a permitting system to allow mobile vendors to sell their wares on county property.

For purposes of this chapter, "mobile vendor" means a transient business selling or delivering food or goods in the county, including, but not limited to, a mobile food facility as that term is defined in Section 7.52.040(C).

For purposes of this chapter, "mobile vending" means vending, selling, serving, displaying or offering for sale, wares or merchandise or food from a mobile vending unit or mobile food facility located on a county-owned or maintained street, highway, public parking space, park or other county-owned or maintained property.

(Ord. 1309, 9/3/2024)

The director of public works or his or her designee may issue a permit to a mobile vendor to sell their wares at a county-controlled park, in a county-controlled parking lot, or within the shoulder of a county right-of-way on such rights-of-way where there is designated, stripped parking. All permits shall require that the mobile vendor comply with the requirements set forth in Section 18.61.030 and Title 7, as such requirements may apply to the vendor's business operations. The director may, in his or her sole discretion, deny a permit based on considerations of general health, welfare and safety, parking needs, park usage levels, or any other factors that the director believes are relevant and in the best interest of the public. The director may, in his or her sole discretion, add additional restrictions or requirements to the permit in order to protect public safety and ensure the orderly and proper use of county-controlled facilities.

(Ord. 1309, 9/3/2024)

The fee for mobile vending permits shall be set by resolution of the board of supervisors.

(Ord. 1309, 9/3/2024)

All mobile vending permits shall be first issued for a duration of three months. Subsequent mobile vending permits to the same mobile vendor shall be issued for a duration not to exceed one year.

(Ord. 1309, 9/3/2024)

Except as permitted in this section, no person or mobile vendor shall engage in any commercial activity or mobile vending on property owned or controlled by the county of Inyo except as permitted by Chapter 6.2 (commencing with Section 51036) of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 5 of the Government Code.

Each mobile vendor shall obtain all required state and county licenses and permits including, but not limited to, environmental health certifications if applicable. All necessary permits and certifications shall be conspicuously posted on the mobile vending unit.

Each mobile vendor shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations including, but not limited to, the California Health and Safety Code, California Retail Food Code and Title 7 of the Inyo County Code.

(Ord. 1309, 9/3/2024)

It shall be unlawful to engage in mobile vending in violation of this chapter. Any person violating any provisions of this chapter may be subject to the provisions of the Inyo County Code Title 22.

In addition, mobile vendors operating in violation of the provisions of this chapter, or any other applicable federal, state or local law or regulation, may be declared to be a public nuisance subject to the procedures set forth in Inyo County Code Title 22. Such remedies are in addition to and may be sought or imposed concurrently with any other remedy provided by law, regulation or ordinance.

(Ord. 1309, 9/3/2024)