Marion County adopts street vendor ordinance, sets $50 permit fee

The Marion County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 6 adopted an ordinance creating a permitting and regulatory framework for street vendors operating in unincorporated areas of the county and set the application fee at $50.

Steve Elzinga, Marion County counsel, told the Board the ordinance was drafted in collaboration with the Marion County Farm Bureau and other partners to address safety concerns where street vendors operate near rights of way, interfere with traffic flow or trespass on private property. “The goal is to improve safety for the street vendors themselves by ensuring they're operating in a safe location, as well as for drivers, pedestrians, etcetera,” Elzinga said during the public hearing.

Key provisions in the adopted ordinance…