**Los Angeles County Launches $2.8 Million Sidewalk Vending Cart Program to Support Local Vendors**
The Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), in partnership with the City of Los Angeles Economic and Workforce Development Department, has announced the launch of the Sidewalk Vending Cart Program. This new initiative invests $2.8 million to provide more than 280 free, health-code-compliant food vending carts to eligible sidewalk vendors across Los Angeles County and the City of Los Angeles.
Designed to help vendors meet new legal requirements, overcome financial barriers to formalization, and operate safely and legally within their communities, the program represents a significant step toward economic inclusion and support for low-income entrepreneurs, according to a county news release.
### Background and Legislative Context
The launch follows the passage of Senate Bill 946, known as the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act, and Senate Bill 972, which amended the California Retail Food Code to create a new permit category called the Compact Mobile Food Operation (CMFO). In response, Los Angeles County adopted its own sidewalk vending ordinance effective August 2024.
The ordinance establishes a formal process for sidewalk vendors operating legally in unincorporated areas of the county. Key requirements include obtaining a Sidewalk Vending Registration Certificate (SVRC) and, for food vendors, a CMFO permit issued by the Department of Public Health.
While these changes provide a clear pathway to legal vending and entry into the formal economy, they also introduce new costs and permitting requirements that many vendors may find difficult to afford.
### Supportive Measures for Vendors
To address these challenges, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved several supportive measures, including:
– Waiving the $604 SVRC fee for the first two years.
– Reducing the SVRC fee to $100 in the third year.
– Offering a 75% fee subsidy for CMFO permits.
– Launching Small Business Mobility Fund Formalization Grants to offset up to $5,000 in additional permitting costs.
The Sidewalk Vending Cart Program is the next phase of this comprehensive strategy, providing fully compliant vending carts free of charge to qualifying vendors who complete the permitting process.
### Program Details and Vendor Eligibility
In September 2024, DEO issued a request for bids to procure a minimum of 281 vending carts, allocated as follows: 180 carts for vendors in unincorporated areas of the county and 101 for neighborhoods within the City of Los Angeles.
Agreements have been executed with three local manufacturers to produce and distribute approved cart types, including:
– Hot-holding carts
– Cold-holding carts
– Cut-fruit carts
– Integrated grill carts
All carts are designed to meet public health standards under the CMFO classification and enable vendors to transition from informal operations to legal, compliant businesses.
To be eligible for a cart, applicants must:
– Be 18 years or older.
– Reside in Los Angeles County.
– Be self-employed as a sidewalk vendor.
– Earn less than $75,000 annually from vending activities.
– Operate within either unincorporated Los Angeles County or the City of Los Angeles.
– Commit to full compliance with public health and safety regulations.
Vendors will receive a cart only after securing all necessary permits, including the CMFO certificate, SVRC, and any required local vending permits, depending on their jurisdiction.
### Quotes and Next Steps
“This program is about more than equipment; it is about economic equity,” said Kelly LoBianco, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity. “Sidewalk vendors are vital to our communities, culture, and local economies. With this effort, we are making it possible for hundreds of hard-working vendors to operate safely, legally, and sustainably.”
Carts will be distributed as they are manufactured. Applications are open now and will be reviewed monthly. Priority for cart awards is given based on applicants’ readiness for compliance and their location in high-need areas, as identified by the county’s Equity Explorer Map. Final recipients will be selected via lottery.
Currently, the county and City of Los Angeles have 50 hot-holding and 30 cold-holding carts ready for the first round of awards, with 40 integrated grill carts in production.
For more information and to apply, interested vendors can visit the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity website.
—
*This program reflects Los Angeles County’s commitment to fostering economic opportunities and supporting small businesses in the community.*
https://signalscv.com/2026/01/la-city-county-launch-2-8m-sidewalk-vending-cart-program/
