Earlier editions: 2026-07
La Cañada Flintridge Municipal Code Ch. 5.15 Vending on City Sidewalks
La Cañada Flintridge Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · La Cañada Flintridge
Cite as: La Cañada Flintridge Municipal Code Chapter 5.15 · Text as of 2026-10-04
§ 5.15.010. Definitions.¶
As used in this chapter:
"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.
(Ord. 474 § 1, 2019)
§ 5.15.020. Selling food or merchandise—Operational requirements.¶
A. No sidewalk vendor shall operate without a sidewalk vending permit pursuant to Chapter 6.06 and a valid business license pursuant to Chapter 6.16 of this code.
B. All permits shall be displayed in a visible and conspicuous location at all times during the operation of the vending business.
C. It shall be prohibited for any sidewalk vendor to operate under any of the following conditions:
Vend in a residential zone during the hours solicitation is prohibited in Section 6.06.110;
Leave any stand unattended;
Store, park, or leave any stand overnight on any public street, sidewalk, or park;
Sell food or beverages for immediate consumption unless there is a litter receptacle available for patrons' use;
Leave any location without first disposing all trash or refuse remaining from sales conducted. Trash and refuse generated by the vending cart operations shall not be disposed of in public trash receptacles;
Allow any items relating to the operation of the vending business to be placed anywhere other than in, on, or under the stand;
Set up, maintain, or permit the use of any additional table, crate, carton, rack, or any other device to increase the selling or display capacity of his or her stand where such terms have not been described by his or her application;
Solicit or conduct business with persons in motor vehicles;
Sell anything other than that which he or she is licensed to vend;
Sound or permit the sounding of any device that produces a loud and raucous noise, or use or operate any loud speaker, public address system, radio, sound amplifier, or similar device to attract the attention of the public;
Operate within 50 feet of a fire hydrant or 25 feet of a transit stop;
Operate within 15 feet of the outer edge of a driveway or vehicular entrance to public or private property in residential zones;
Operate in a manner that does not maintain four feet of clear space on a public sidewalk;
Operate on any street that does not have a public sidewalk;
Operate a stationary vending cart in exclusively residential zones;
Operate a stationary sidewalk vending cart in any city park that has a concessionaire during the hours the concessionaire is open;
Operate within 50 feet of an abutting residential zone within a city park;
Operate a sidewalk vending cart within a parking lot within a city park;
Operate a sidewalk vending cart within 1,000 feet from any public or private school property, during school hours or one hour before or after school hours;
Operate a sidewalk vending cart within 500 feet of a certified farmers' market or events issued a temporary use permit during the operating hours of that certified farmers' market or permitted event; and
Operate in violation of any other generally applicable law.
D. No advertising shall be permitted, except to identify the name of the product or the name of the vendor and the posting of prices.
(Ord. 474 § 1, 2019)
§ 5.15.030. Violation—Penalty.¶
A. Violations of Section 5.15.020, other than failure to possess a valid sidewalk vending permit, is punishable by the following:
An administrative fine not exceeding $100 for a first violation.
An administrative fine not exceeding $200 for a second violation within one year of the first violation.
An administrative fine not exceeding $500 for each additional violation within one year of the first violation.
Rescission of a sidewalk vending permit for the term of that permit upon the fourth violation or subsequent violations within one year of the first violation.
B. Violations of Section 5.15.020 by vending without a license or permit issued by the city is punishable by the following:
An administrative fine not exceeding $250 for a first violation.
An administrative fine not exceeding $500 for a second violation within one year of the first violation.
An administrative fine not exceeding $1,000 for each additional violation within one year of the first violation.
C. Upon proof of a valid permit issued by the city, any administrative fines imposed under this subsection for vending without possessing a copy of the permit shall be reduced to the administrative fines set forth in subsection A of this section.
D. All fines imposed pursuant to subsection A or B above shall be subject to an ability-to-pay determination as described in California Government Code Section 51039(f). Concurrently with issuing a citation for such fines to a person, the city shall provide the person with notice of his or her right to request an ability-to-pay determination and shall make available instructions or other materials for requesting an ability-to-pay determination.
(Ord. 474 § 1, 2019)
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