Oxnard expands after‑hours enforcement on unpermitted food vendors, cites safety and state law limits

Jeff Bengilly, Oxnard City Community Development Director, told the council the city has mounted about 50 after‑hours enforcement operations in 2025 to address unpermitted food vending, which staff view as both a fire and public‑health hazard.

Bengilly described the HERO (Hazard Elimination and Reduction Operations) program as a collaboration led by the Fire Department with support from the Police Department and the City Attorney’s Office to mitigate risks posed by largely out‑of‑area vendors.

"These are predominantly vendors from outside of the area, and they pose a risk of fire safety in addition to the health risk of the food products that they are selling that are unverified and refrigerated and of unknown origin," Bengilly said.

He said Oxnard coordinates with Ventura County Environmental Health, which enforces food‑safety standards, but county staffing limits mean the county cannot join every operation. He noted that state law changes have limited cities’ enforcement options: ``This is reflected in, senate bills 9 46 and 9 72 passed in 2018 and 2023, and these laws significantly reduce the city's ability to mitigate this hazard to Oxnard residents.''

Bengilly referenced a Dec. 20, 2025 fire at an unpermitted vendor on Vineyard Street that involved an apparent propane release; he said no injuries occurred and damage was limited to vendor equipment, but he also cited prior incidents in which a person was severely burned.

The presentation conveyed that Oxnard is currently the only city in Ventura County actively conducting these operations and that the county is preparing to increase enforcement support.