Street vendor Luis Sanchez waits for customers by his mobile food stand in a residential neighborhood in North Las Vegas Wednesday, June 14, 2023. Senate Bill 92, signed by Governor Lombardo last week, legitimizes street vendors across the state, providing them with the necessary permits to operate and grow their small businesses.
Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023 | 3:13 p.m.
The city of Las Vegas is considering an ordinance to license and regulate sidewalk vendors.
The ordinance may be introduced at the Nov. 15 City Council meeting and could be adopted before the end of the year, city officials said.
The potential ordinance comes months after Gov. Joe Lombardo signed Senate Bill 92, which was sponsored by Sen. Fabian Doñate, D-Las Vegas, and established requirements for the licensing and regulation of sidewalk food vendors.
Counties and cities that do not adopt ordinances to comply with the bill cannot cite, fine or prosecute people for sidewalk vending.
Similar to an ordinance passed by Clark County on Oct. 3, the city’s proposed ordinance defines a sidewalk vendor as someone who sells food, beverages or merchandise upon a public sidewalk or pedestrian path.
Vendors would be prohibited from selling within 1,500 feet from a resort and 150 feet from the main entrance of a food establishment.
They would also be prohibited from selling within 1,000 feet of nonrestricted gaming establishments, the Fremont Street Experience, city recreation facilities and schools during certain hours.
To receive a city business license, vendors would need health permits, a state business license or exemption, and a sales tax permit or exemption.
Vendors would pay a $50 processing fee and $150 annual business license fee.
They would only be allowed to operate from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and would need permission to sell in conjunction with special events.
The city will host multiple informational sessions on the ordinance, starting with an online session at 2 p.m. Wednesday. The next session will be at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 19 online.
Two in-person meetings will be held later in the month.
Updates on the sidewalk vending ordinance will be posted on the city’s website at www.lasvegasnevada.gov/sidewalkvending.
