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2w ago

LA County and City Open $2.8 Million Program for Free Sidewalk Vending Carts

The initiative reduces compliance costs through code‑compliant carts, fee waivers, permit subsidies.

LOS ANGELES, CA  – JUNE 17, 2025 – – Tomasa Chavez, 63, from Mexico, cooks at her booth on a sidewalk in the Pico Union District in Los Angeles on June 17, 2025. “There’s no need to stress,” Chavez said. “If they take me, I’ll go.” Chavez is undocumented. The sidewalks, which are usually teeming with customers, were mostly missing on Tuesday. Due to recent immigration raids street vendors are weighing the risks of selling their products on the street vs. staying home and losing a day of work. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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Overview

  • Applications are now open with monthly reviews, priority for highest‑need areas, possible lottery selection, and an approval and delivery window of up to 12 weeks.
  • Officials will distribute 281 carts, allocating 180 to unincorporated county areas and 101 to neighborhoods within the City of Los Angeles.
  • Eligible applicants must be at least 18, live in Los Angeles County, be self‑employed as sidewalk vendors operating in the city or unincorporated areas, earn under $75,000 from vending, and commit to health and safety compliance.
  • Distribution occurs only after required permits are secured, including a Sidewalk Vending Registration Certificate, a compact mobile food operation certificate for food vendors, and any applicable local permits.
  • Financial relief includes waiving the first two years of the $604 registration fee, a $100 discount in year three, and up to a 75% subsidy for compact mobile food operation permit fees.