Turlock Municipal Code Ch. 5-17 Itinerant Vendors

The City Council of the City of Turlock hereby finds and declares that public necessity, health and safety, and for the general welfare, immediately requires that any person operating an itinerant business or service as an owner or operator or as an employee of an owner or operator obtain a permit from the City of Turlock and operate pursuant to the laws of the State of California, the County of Stanislaus and the City of Turlock.

(Ord. 1332-CS, 8/21/2025)

For the purposes of this chapter, unless otherwise stated in this chapter, the following words and phrases are defined as follows:

(a)

"Established place of business"

shall mean and include a fixed place, location or building within the boundaries of the City of Turlock, zoned for residential uses with a valid City home occupation permit, or commercial, office, or industrial uses, owned, or rented or leased on a month-to-month or term for years basis, by a person using such place, location or building as his or her permanent place of business.

(b)

"Itinerant vendor"

means a person who engages in a temporary or transient commercial activity within the City by selling goods or services, or taking orders for future delivery of goods or services, and who does not operate from a permanent, established place of business within the City.

(1)

An itinerant vendor conducts business by traveling from place to place, soliciting door-to-door, or operating from a temporary location on private property with the consent of the property owner.

(2)

The term does not include a "sidewalk vendor," "roaming sidewalk vendor," or "stationary sidewalk vendor" as defined and regulated in TMC Chapter 5-29 and California Government Code Section 51036.

(c)

"Person"

shall mean and include natural persons, sole proprietorships, firms, associations, partnerships, or corporations.

(d)

"Non-profit organization"

shall mean and include any organization, foundation, corporation or association recognized by the State of California as a non-profit organization.

(e)

"Temporary location"

shall mean and include a location that may not be used in excess of 72 hours in any consecutive 30-day period.

(Ord. 1332-CS, 8/21/2025; Ord. 1350-CS, 8/27/2026)

(a) No person shall engage in any business whether individually or as the employee or agent of another person, firm, company, corporation, association, organization, or partnership as an itinerant vendor without first complying with all applicable requirements of Chapter 9-2 TMC (Zoning Regulations) and having obtained a permit from the Chief of Police.

(b) Exemptions: The following are expressly exempt from the provisions of this chapter:

(1) Qualified participants in a farmer's market registered with the sponsoring organization approved from time to time by the City Council of the City of Turlock;

(2) Merchants having an established place of business in the City of Turlock, or to their employees or agents;

(3) Wholesalers or their representatives, employees or agents, calling upon retail business;

(4) Sidewalk vendors, roaming sidewalk vendor, or stationary sidewalk vendor as defined in and regulated by TMC Chapter 5-29.

(c) Non-profit organizations as recognized by the State of California are not required to obtain an itinerant vendor permit but shall register their itinerant vendor activity with the City of Turlock Police Department pursuant to TMC § 5-17-16.

(Ord. 1332-CS, 8/21/2025; Ord. 1350-CS, 8/27/2026)

Any person desiring to obtain an itinerant vendor permit or desiring to obtain a permit for his or her employee or agent shall file a written application with the Chief of Police on the application form provided by the Police Department. Such application shall set forth the following information:

(a) The applicant's name and address(es), both residential and business;

(b) If the applicant is a corporation, the name of the corporation exactly as it appears in the articles of incorporation, as well as the names and addresses of all officers, directors and stock holders holding 5% or more of the stock in the corporation;

(c) If the applicant is a partnership or unincorporated association, the names and addresses of all partners, including limited partners, or principals. Additionally, if the applicant is a partnership, then it must designate a managing partner and that person must complete the application form;

(d) The applicant's date of birth, weight, height, color of eyes and hair;

(e) The name under which the itinerant vendor operates;

(f) The name of each City, County and State, including the specific addresses therein, in which the applicant has been engaged in or has conducted itinerant vendor activity within the immediately preceding five years;

(g) A statement of all felonies and misdemeanors for which the applicant has been convicted, including nolo contendere, within the five years immediately preceding the date of the application;

(h) The applicant's valid drivers license number, the applicant's Social Security number, individual taxpayer identification number, or municipal identification number;

(i) The type of permit requested (i.e., owner, operator or employee);

(j) Any and all other information requested by the Chief of Police to facilitate the processing of the application and to ensure that the public's health, safety and general welfare is protected;

(k) A signed statement that the information contained in the application as submitted by the applicant is true to the best of the applicant's knowledge under the penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California.

(Ord. 1332-CS, 8/21/2025; Ord. 1350-CS, 8/27/2026)

Any person desiring to obtain a permit shall pay to the City of Turlock, and submit along with the itinerant vendor application, the fees established from time to time by resolution of the City Council of the City of Turlock for itinerant vendors.

(Ord. 1332-CS, 8/21/2025; Ord. 1350-CS, 8/27/2026)

(a) The Chief of Police shall conduct and complete an investigation of the truthfulness of the facts set forth in the itinerant vendors application filed pursuant this chapter, and the moral fitness, reputation, character, integrity and competency of the applicant.

(b) The applicant shall report to the Turlock Police Station to be fingerprinted, the cost of which shall be borne by the applicant. A complete fingerprint background investigation through the California Department of Justice can take an estimated six to 16 weeks to complete.

(c) The Chief of Police, within 15 days after the application is received, shall conduct a preliminary background check of references and law enforcement agency records within Stanislaus County and counties contiguous to Stanislaus County pursuant to a written release from applicant.

(d) If the Chief of Police finds nothing in the preliminary background investigation which would indicate that the applicant's moral fitness, reputation, character, integrity or competency would pose a threat to the public safety, health or welfare, the Chief of Police may issue a 90-day temporary permit while the complete fingerprint background investigation is being completed by the California Department of Justice pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. To qualify for a temporary permit, the itinerant vendor: (1) shall file a permit application pursuant to this chapter; and (2) shall be subject to a background check of references and law enforcement agency records within Stanislaus County and other California counties pursuant to a written release from applicant. If the complete fingerprint background investigation is not completed by the California Department of Justice on the expiration date of the 90-day temporary permit, the Chief of Police may extend the expiration date by not more than 60 days.

(Ord. 1332-CS, 8/21/2025; Ord. 1350-CS, 8/27/2026)

The Chief of Police shall grant and issue the permit for a period not to exceed one year and subject to the conditions established below and any other conditions that the Chief of Police establishes if the Chief of Police finds nothing in the preliminary background investigation or the complete fingerprint background investigation through the California Department of Justice which would indicate that the applicant's moral fitness, reputation, character, integrity or competency is not good or would pose a threat to the public safety, health or welfare.

(Ord. 1332-CS, 8/21/2025; Ord. 1350-CS, 8/27/2026)

The following conditions shall apply to each and every permit issued:

(a) The applicant must be 18 years or older or if the applicant is between the age of 14 and 17, inclusive, submit proof of a valid work permit issued by the applicant's school;

(b) The applicant must not have been convicted within the five years immediately preceding application for a permit for a crime involving honesty or veracity, violence, dangerous or deadly weapons, or not more than once during the same five-year period of the use or possession of narcotics or other such illicit substance;

(c) The applicant must operate in accordance with the provisions and requirements of the laws of the United States of America, the State of California, the County of Stanislaus, and the City of Turlock;

(d) The applicant must operate in a courteous, honest and forthright manner which includes, but is not limited to, the following:

(1) Display his or her permit pursuant to TMC § 5-17-13 and upon request present it for review by the person the permittee is soliciting;

(2) Refrain from soliciting those persons that have indicated that they do not want to be solicited, either orally or by the posting of a sign;

(3) Do not threaten or coerce any person;

(e) The applicant must procure and present to the City of Turlock a bond in the penal sum of $1,000;

(f) If the applicant proposes to operate on private property, he or she must first obtain zoning clearance from the City of Turlock Development Services Department, Planning Division, and shall comply and operate pursuant to all applicable zoning laws, regulations, and special conditions as administered by the City of Turlock Development Services Department by authority of the Turlock Municipal Code;

(g) Any and all other conditions established by the Chief of Police or the City Manager, or his or her designee, on any one individual permit to ensure the public health, safety and general welfare.

(Ord. 1332-CS, 8/21/2025; Ord. 1350-CS, 8/27/2026)

(a) Denial. The Chief of Police may deny the permit if it appears that:

(1) The applicant has been convicted, including a plea of nolo contendere, of a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude under any State or Federal law; or

(2) There is any cause which, in the opinion of the Chief of Police, jeopardizes the public health, safety or general welfare.

(b) Suspension and Revocation. The Chief of Police is authorized to temporarily suspend or permanently revoke the permit of any person permitted under this chapter for any of the reasons that follow after five days' written notice to the permittee specifying the grounds for the proposed suspension or revocation and requiring the permittee to appear at a certain time and place to show cause why such permit should not be suspended or revoked:

(1) Non-compliance with any of the conditions established by TMC § 5-17-08.

(2) If it appears that the permittee has engaged in any unlawful business, act or acts.

(3) When any matter comes to the attention of the Chief of Police that the information provided in the permittee's application was false.

(4) When complaint(s) have been lodged against the permittee that same has threatened or jeopardizes the public health, safety or general welfare.

(Ord. 1332-CS, 8/21/2025; Ord. 1350-CS, 8/27/2026)

(a) Any permittee or applicant may appeal the decision of the Chief of Police to deny, suspend or revoke a permit to the City Manager, or his or her designee, by submitting such appeal in writing within 10 days of the date of the denial, suspension or revocation.

(b) The City Manager, or his or her designee, shall set a date and time for a hearing not later than 10 days from the receipt of the written appeal on the appeal and give at least five calendar days' written notice thereof by mail addressed to the applicant's permanent address as reflected in the application. At the hearing, which may be continued from time to time, the City Manager may take oral and documentary evidence from any interested person regarding the moral fitness, reputation, character, integrity and competency of the applicant or any other factors which were used by the Chief of Police in his or her reasonable judgment that resulted in the denial, suspension or revocation of a permit. Any applicant or permittee or applicant who fails to appear at the hearing after notice was given, without obtaining a continuance from the City Manager, or his or her designee, may be deemed to have waived any right to introduce evidence or object to the final decision of the City Manager, or his or her designee.

(c) If the applicant fails to appear at the time and place set for hearing, the City Manager will consider the matter resolved by the ruling of the Chief of Police.

(d) The City Manager, or his or her designee, shall make a ruling at the end of such hearing or within five days thereafter to either:

(1) Uphold the decision of the Chief of Police in the denial, suspension or revocation of the permit;

(2) Overrule the decision of the Chief of Police and grant or reinstate the permit;

(3) Amend the suspension length of the permit for any such period as may be deemed necessary and proper;

(4) Grant or reinstate the permit with additional conditions established thereto.

(Ord. 1332-CS, 8/21/2025; Ord. 1350-CS, 8/27/2026)

(a) Any applicant may appeal the decision of the City Manager, or his or her designee, by filing such appeal with the City Clerk in writing within 10 days of the date of the City Manager's decision.

(b) The City Clerk shall schedule a public hearing at next regularly scheduled City Council meeting in accordance with the calendar deadlines established by the City Clerk for placing an item on the City Council agenda. The City Clerk shall give at least five calendar days' written notice thereof by mail addressed to the applicant's permanent address as reflected in the application.

(c) If the applicant fails to appear at the time and place set for hearing, the City Council will consider the matter resolved by the ruling of the City Manager, or his or her designee.

(d) If the applicant does appear, the applicant will have to show by clear and convincing evidence that the City Manager, or his or her designee, was incorrect in his or her ruling.

(e) The City Council shall have the power to concur with the ruling of the City Manager, or his or her designee, or reject the ruling and order the issuance of the permit. In either event, the decision of the City Council shall be the final administrative remedy available to the applicant.

(Ord. 1332-CS, 8/21/2025; Ord. 1350-CS, 8/27/2026)

Any permit issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be non-transferable and such shall be used only by the person to whom it has been issued.

(Ord. 1332-CS, 8/21/2025; Ord. 1350-CS, 8/27/2026)

(a) The permittee shall display his or her permit on his or her person at all times while engaged in any such business.

(b) The permittee shall also have in his or her possession written permission to be on and conduct business on such public or private property from the owner, or his or her authorized representative. The permittee shall, upon demand of any peace officer or fire inspector, present such written permission.

(Ord. 1332-CS, 8/21/2025; Ord. 1350-CS, 8/27/2026)

(a) Any permit issued pursuant to this chapter does not allow or authorize the permittee to operate on a public highway or road right of way nor does it allow the permittee to operate on public or private property without the prior written permission of the current owner, or his or her authorized representative.

(Ord. 1332-CS, 8/21/2025; Ord. 1350-CS, 8/27/2026)

Any permit issued pursuant to this chapter may thereafter be renewed yearly by the applicant, if the permit has not been suspended or revoked, upon the applicant requesting same from the Chief of Police and paying in advance the renewal fee as established from time to time by resolution of the City Council.

(Ord. 1332-CS, 8/21/2025; Ord. 1350-CS, 8/27/2026)

(a) Any organization not required to obtain permits pursuant to TMC § 5-17-03(c) and engaged as itinerant vendors must nonetheless register their organization and participants with the City of Turlock Police Department prior to engaging in such activity.

(b) Registration pursuant to subsection (a) of this section must be made in writing at least five days prior to the commencement of such activity and shall contain at least the following information:

(1) The name of the organization;

(2) The names of all itinerant vendors;

(3) The nature of the activity and the dates that same will be conducted;

(4) Any other such information that the Chief of Police may require to insure the public safety, health and general welfare.

(Ord. 1332-CS, 8/21/2025; Ord. 1350-CS, 8/27/2026)

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any provision of this chapter or to fail to comply with any of the requirements of this chapter. Any person violating any of such provisions or failing to comply with any of such requirements of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(b) Each person shall be guilty of a separate offense for each and every day during any portion of which any violation of any provision of this chapter is committed, continued or permitted by such person and shall be punishable accordingly.

(c) In addition to the penalties provided by this section, any condition caused or permitted to exist in violation of this chapter shall be deemed a public nuisance and may be summarily abated by the City, and shall be regarded as a new and separate offense.

(d) Any person convicted of a misdemeanor under the provisions of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000, or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period not to exceed six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(e) Each person who violates any provision of this chapter may be subject to the imposition and payment of an administrative fine(s) in accordance with Turlock Municipal Code Chapter 2-11.

(f) Pursuant to California Government Code Section 38773.7, any person found in violation of the provisions of this chapter a second or subsequent time within a two-year period will be subject to treble damages, according to court order.

(Ord. 1332-CS, 8/21/2025; Ord. 1350-CS, 8/27/2026)