Street vendors across Los Angeles County just got a major boost to business. A new county initiative is offering free, state health code-compliant food carts to qualifying sidewalk food vendors. This new move is making it easier than ever to operate food carts legally and safely in Los Angeles.
Announced on Monday, the $2.8 million Sidewalk Vending Cart Program is a joint effort by the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity and the City of Los Angeles Economic and Workforce Development Department. Launched in August 2024, the program will distribute more than 280 free vending carts to eligible vendors operating in both the city and unincorporated areas of the county.
Officials say the goal of this new initiative is to remove long-standing financial barriers that have made legalization difficult for low-income vendors, even after California decriminalized safe sidewalk vending under SB 946 in 2018.
A Long Road for L.A’s Street Vendors
This new move comes after L.A.’s street food vendors won the right to legally serve customers anywhere in the city back in February 2024. The ordinance at that time allowed street vendors to serve food in previously restricted areas.
What’s Included in the New Program
In addition to a free, health-code-compliant food cart, the program also offers significant financial relief:
- First two years of the $604 vending registration certificate fee waived
- $100 discount in the third year
- 75% subsidy for the compact mobile food operation permit, which typically costs between $126 and $592 per year, depending on food type
Of the 281 carts being distributed:
- 180 are designated for vendors in unincorporated LA County
- 101 are reserved for vendors operating within City of Los Angeles neighborhoods
The carts are manufactured by three approved vendors and meet public health standards. Plus, they come in several configurations, including hot-holding, cold-holding, cut-fruit, and grill models.
Who Is Eligible?
To qualify for the Sidewalk Vending Cart Program, applicants must:
- Be 18 years or older
- Live in Los Angeles County
- Operate in unincorporated LA County or the City of Los Angeles
- Be self-employed as a sidewalk vendor
- Earn less than $75,000 annually from vending
- Commit to full compliance with public health and safety regulations
How to Apply
- Apply online through the official county application portal here
- Applications are reviewed monthly for eligibility and cart type
- Vendors operating in highest-need areas will be prioritized
- Remaining applicants may be selected through a lottery system
- Approval and cart delivery can take up to 12 weeks
While selected vendors will still need to complete required permits and health inspections, the program removes one of the biggest hurdles to legal operation, the cost of a compliant cart.
For many of L.A.’s beloved street vendors, this initiative could be a true game changer. It will help them focus on what they do best – feeding Angelenos delicious food throughout the city.