Anyone interested in starting a street vending business can take a webinar course hosted by the city on March 15 that will explain a new ordinance that requires vendors to get permits and operate only in certain areas.
The ordinance went into effect on Feb. 26 after a unanimous vote by City Council members. Some vendors have already been applying for the required business licenses and health permits, said Long Beach Health Department spokesperson Jenn Rice Epstein, and there have also been many questions about the process.
The webinar will cover both the new ordinance rules and the Sidewalk to Success program, under which street vendors can have their costs covered for business licenses, health permit fees, and insurance during the first year of operation. The city’s goal with the program is to lessen financial barriers to starting a street vending business.
The city has stressed its intent to educate vendors before enforcing or citing them for permit or health code violations. Still, some vendors have not received information on the new rules or the financial assistance.
City officials said it will be about six months from when the ordinance went into effect before they begin enforcing the ordinance.
The meeting will take place on Zoom (passcode 114665) and include a Q&A portion. Interpretation services in Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog will be available.
The city intends to hold several public meetings to educate the community about the ordinance.