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Lake Forest adopts municipal code updates including SB 635 sidewalk‑vending changes and new fireworks prohibition
Summary
The council approved municipal code updates to adopt a new city logo, align sidewalk vending rules with Senate Bill 635 (removing background‑check requirements), make clerical corrections to building code references and explicitly ban consumer fireworks, with misdemeanors or graduated fines for violations.
Lake Forest — The City Council on Feb. 3 moved forward with municipal code updates that include a new official logo, sidewalk vending changes to comply with Senate Bill 635, technical corrections to building‑code chapters and a citywide fireworks prohibition.
Nydia Castellino, assistant to the city manager, told the council staff periodically updates the municipal code to remain consistent with state law and to improve clarity. The proposed sidewalk vending changes would remove requirements such as background checks and limit display of vendor personal information to conform with SB 635; staff noted the city may still regulate vendors through generally applicable public‑health and safety standards. Castellino said commercial vending permits may still require background checks where allowed.
The draft ordinance also includes clerical corrections associated with the adoption of the 2025 California Building Standards Code and reinstitutes a local responsibility area fire hazard severity map that had been overwritten by a prior ordinance. Separately, staff proposed clarifying property maintenance regulations and adopting an explicit municipal prohibition on fireworks — including "safe and sane" fireworks — with limited exceptions spelled out in code.
During public comment, resident Andrew O'Connor criticized state policy changes on sidewalk vending, raised enforcement concerns and cited past fireworks disturbances near El Toro. The city attorney explained how fireworks violations can be enforced: as a misdemeanor prosecuted through the district attorney or as a code‑enforcement citation with graduated fines starting at $100 up to $500 for code violations.
Council members moved to introduce and approve the ordinance as recommended by staff. The clerk recorded the motion as passing with Councilmember Voigt absent. The approval advances the ordinance for its next formal reading or subsequent procedural steps required for adoption under the city’s process.
The council’s action clarifies local regulation consistent with SB 635 and establishes an explicit prohibition on fireworks, while preserving staff discretion to enforce through criminal prosecution or administrative fines.
