Charlotte council weighs higher fines, NoDa pilot and citywide permitting for street vendors

Charlotte City Council members spent a majority of an action‑review discussion on proposals to change how the city regulates street vending, focusing on enforcement in the Tryon Street Mall (Uptown), a permit‑based pilot in NoDa and whether permitting should be required citywide.

City planning and transportation staff presented the background and committee recommendations and urged using a measured rollout. Charlie Jones of the Charlotte Department of Transportation told the council that street vending is governed by Chapter 6 of the Charlotte Code of Ordinances and noted a practical enforcement gap: “CMPD doesn’t at this time have a technological solution to track civil citation offenses at the individual level,” and staff therefore recommended setting an upper fine comparable to other cities and pairing an increase with a public education campaign.

The Housing, Safety and Community Committee unanimously approved two motions last week: one to develop an escalated fine structure (staff suggested “a fine not to exceed $500 per violation”) for the Tryon Street Mall and another to develop a permit‑based pilot for NoDa. Jones described timing options: a June 23…