Seal Beach Municipal Code Ch. 5.80 Sidewalk Vending

The following words and phrases, whenever used in this chapter, shall mean as follows:

"Certified farmers' market"

means a location operated in accordance with Chapter 10.5 of Division 17 of the Food and Agricultural Code and any regulations adopted pursuant to that chapter.

"Director"

means the director of community development of the City of Seal Beach.

"Person"

means 1 or more natural persons, groups, businesses, business trusts, companies, corporations, joint ventures, joint stock companies, partnership, entities, associations, clubs, or organizations composed of 2 or more individuals (or the manager, lessee, agent, servant, officer, or employee of any of them), whether engaged in business, nonprofit, or any other activity.

"Roaming sidewalk vendor"

means a sidewalk vendor who moves from place to place and stops only to complete a transaction.

"Sidewalk vendor"

means a person who vends from a vending cart or from one's person, upon a public sidewalk, parkway, pedestrian path, or other public right-of-way available to pedestrians.

"Stationary sidewalk vendor"

means a sidewalk vendor who vends from a fixed location.

"Swap meet"

means a location operated in accordance with Article 6 of Chapter 9 of Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code, and any regulations adopted pursuant to that article.

"Temporary special permit"

means a permit issued by the city for the temporary use of, or encroachment on, the sidewalk or any other public area, including, but not limited to, an encroachment permit, special event permit, or temporary event permit, for purposes including, but not limited to, filming, parades, or outdoor concerns.

"Vend" or "vending"

means to sell, offer for sale, display for sale, or solicit offers to purchase, food, food products, beverages, goods, or merchandise.

"Vending cart"

means a pushcart, stand, display, pedal-driven cart, wagon, showcase, rack, or other non-motorized conveyance used for vending, that is not a vehicle as defined in the California Vehicle Code.

(Ord. 1675)

No person, either for themselves or any other person, shall conduct or engage in sidewalk vending within the city without first obtaining a sidewalk vending permit pursuant to this chapter.

(Ord. 1675)

To apply for a sidewalk vending permit, a person must file an application with the director, accompanied by a nonrefundable processing fee in an amount established by resolution of the city council. The application shall be in a form prescribed by the director and shall contain, at a minimum, the following:

A. The legal name and current address and telephone number of the applicant;

B. If the applicant is an agent of an individual, company, partnership, corporation, or other entity, the name and business address of the principal;

C. A description of the food or merchandise offered for sale;

D. A description of the area(s) the sidewalk vendor intends to operate;

E. Whether the applicant intends to operate as a stationary sidewalk vendor or a roaming sidewalk vendor;

F. A copy of a valid business license issued pursuant to Chapter 5.10 of the Seal Beach Municipal Code;

G. A California seller's permit number pursuant to Section 6067 of the Revenue and Taxation Code;

H. Certification by the applicant that the information contained in the application is true to his or her knowledge and belief;

I. If a vendor of food or food products, certification to completion of a food handler course, proof of all required approvals from the Orange County Environmental Health, in compliance with Chapter 5.40, of the Seal Beach Municipal Code, and any applicable discharge permits in compliance with Chapter 9.25 of the Seal Beach Municipal Code;

J. Proof of liability insurance; and

K. Any other reasonable information regarding the time, place, and manner of the proposed vending.

(Ord. 1675)

The director, or designee, shall approve the issuance of a permit unless he or she determines that:

A. Information contained in the application, or supplemental information requested from the applicant, is false in any material detail;

B. The applicant has failed to provide a complete application, after having been notified of the requirement to produce additional information or documents; or

C. The applicant has failed to demonstrate an ability to conform to the operating standards set forth in Section 5.80.090; or

D. The applicant has failed to pay any previous administrative fines, complete any community service, and/or complete any other alternative disposition associated with a previous violation of this chapter.

(Ord. 1675)

A sidewalk vending permit shall be valid for 12 months from the date of issuance, and shall expire and become null and void on the anniversary of its issuance. A person may apply for a permit renewal on a form provided by the city prior to the expiration of his or her active sidewalk vending permit.

(Ord. 1675)

The director may rescind a permit issued to a sidewalk vendor for a fourth violation or subsequent violation of this chapter. A sidewalk vendor whose permit is rescinded may apply for a new sidewalk vending permit upon the expiration of the term of the rescinded permit.

(Ord. 1675)

Any person aggrieved by the decision of the director to issue, deny issuance, or rescind a sidewalk vending permit may appeal the decision to the city council. The appeal shall be filed with the city clerk within 15 days following the date of the director's decision.

(Ord. 1675)

No permit granted pursuant to this chapter shall be transferable.

(Ord. 1675)

Sidewalk vendors shall comply with the following:

A. No sidewalk vendor shall vend in the following locations:

1. Within 15 feet of any street intersection;

2. Within 10 feet of any fire hydrant, fire call box, or other emergency facility;

3. Within 10 feet of any driveway or driveway apron;

4. Upon or within any roadway, median strip, or dividing section;

5. Within 500 feet of a permitted certified farmers' market, a swap meet, or an area designated for a temporary special permit. This prohibition shall be limited to the operating hours of the farmers' market or swap meet, or the limited duration of the temporary special permit;

6. In any city parking lot;

7. On private property without the consent of the property owner.

B. No sidewalk vendor shall vend to customers in moving operating vehicles, or in a manner that blocks or obstructs the free movement of pedestrians or vehicles. Sidewalk vendors must at all times provide a clearance of not less than 3 feet on all sidewalks, piers, or other pedestrian areas so as to enable persons to freely pass while walking, running, or using mobility assistance devices;

C. Sidewalk vending only is permitted between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., daily, except as follows:

1. In residential areas, roaming sidewalk vending only shall be permitted between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

2. In nonresidential areas, the limit on hours of vending shall not be more restrictive than the hours of operation of other businesses or uses on the same street.

3. In city parks, including the city's public beach and pier area, sidewalk vending shall be permitted only during hours open to the public.

4. On the city's public beach and pier, sidewalk vending shall not be conducted in a manner or location that interferes with the public's and other licensees' use of the beach and pier for recreational purposes, including, without limitation, fishing, swimming, bathing and the mooring of boats. Vendors shall not deposit or dump anything into the water or onto the beach. No vendor on the pier shall use, or block the public's access to, sinks or drains. To protect the public health and safety, vendors shall not establish a fixed location on the sand, and shall not locate on the pier other than against the railing.

D. Stationary sidewalk vendors shall not vend in areas that are zoned exclusively residential.

E. Stationary sidewalk vendors shall not vend at any park, including the city's public beach and pier area, where the city has signed an agreement for concessions that exclusively permits the sale of food or merchandise by a concessionaire.

F. Sidewalk vendors shall provide a trash receptacle for customers and shall ensure proper disposal of customer trash. Prior to leaving any vending location, the sidewalk vendor shall pick up, remove, and dispose of all trash generated by the vending operations or the vendor's customers within a 15-foot radius of the vending location.

G. Vendors of food or food products shall possess and display in plain view on the vending cart, a valid food facility health permit from Orange County Environmental Health.

H. Sidewalk vendors shall possess at all times while vending, a valid permit issued pursuant to this chapter, as well as any other permit or license required by the city and any other appropriate governmental agency.

I. Sidewalk vendors shall possess at all times while vending, current liability insurance.

J. Sidewalk vendors shall comply with all applicable state and local laws, including, without limitation, state food preparation, handling, and labeling requirements; fire codes and regulations; noise standards; and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and other disability access standards (both state and federal).

K. No vending cart shall become a permanent fixture on the vending site or be considered an improvement to real property. No vending cart or goods shall be stored on any public street, sidewalk or any other public property when not in use for vending.

(Ord. 1675)

A. A violation of this chapter by a sidewalk vendor who has a valid sidewalk vending permit from the city is punishable only by an administrative citation pursuant to Section 1.15.015, in amounts not to exceed the following:

1. $100 for a first violation.

2. $200 for a second violation within 1 year of the first violation.

3. $500 for each additional violation within 1 year of the first violation.

B. A person engaged in sidewalk vending without a valid city sidewalk vending permit is punishable by an administrative citation pursuant to Section 1.15.015, in amounts not to exceed the following, in lieu of the amounts set forth in subsection A:

1. $250 for a first violation.

2. $500 for a second violation within 1 year of the first violation.

3. $1,000 for each additional violation within 1 year of the first violation.

4. Upon proof of a valid sidewalk vending permit issued by the city, the administrative citations set forth in this subsection shall be reduced to amounts set forth in subsection A.

C. A violation of this chapter shall not be punishable as an infraction or misdemeanor. No person alleged to have violated the provisions herein shall be subject to arrest except when otherwise permitted by law.

D. Failure to pay an administrative citation issued pursuant to this section shall not be punishable as an infraction or misdemeanor. Additional fines, fees, assessments, or any other financial conditions beyond those authorized herein shall not be assessed.

E. When assessing administrative citations pursuant to this section, the hearing officer shall take into consideration the person's ability to pay the fine. 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. The person may request an ability-to-pay determination at adjudication or while the judgment remains unpaid, including when a case is delinquent or has been referred to a comprehensive collection program.

F. If the person meets the criteria described in subdivision (a) or (b) of Government Code Section 68632, the city shall accept, in full satisfaction, 20% of an administrative citation imposed pursuant to this chapter.

G. The hearing officer may allow a person to complete community service in lieu of paying the total administrative citation, may waive the administrative citation, or may offer an alternative disposition.

(Ord. 1675)