Huntington Beach, California – The City of Huntington Beach has implemented a “zero-tolerance” policy against illegal street and sidewalk vending on its beaches and other public spaces.
According to authorities, street vendors in popular areas are not permitted to sell anything without a permit, including cut fruit and drinks, beach chairs, and other merchandise.
These areas include the beach, Pier Plaza, Pier, beach parking lot, beach service road, Pacific Coast Highway, and downtown Huntington Beach, particularly those designated for permitted events. You can find a complete list of prohibited areas here.
Even people with sidewalk vendor permits are prohibited, according to police.
“Vendors cannot provide or sell any service to anyone, including renting merchandise to customers,” police said in a Facebook post.
The increased enforcement is part of the city’s efforts to maintain safety and order along the coast and in public spaces.
The Safe Sidewalk Vending Act was passed in California in 2018, decriminalising sidewalk vending. However, local governments have the final say on street vending regulations.
According to the city, Code Enforcement officers will begin patrolling the areas mentioned above in June.
Offenders will face fines of up to $1,000, but the city stated that officers will “educate and ask for voluntary cooperation before issuing citations.”
