Council adopts ordinance to curb commercial vending on Venice boardwalk with artist exceptions

The Los Angeles City Council adopted revisions to the Venice Beach commercial‑vending ordinance after a prolonged public hearing that brought dozens of vendors, craftspeople, merchants and community groups to the podium.

Assistant City Attorney Mark Brown summarized the draft ordinance as narrowing general commercial activity on the boardwalk while preserving First Amendment activities and creating limited exceptions for artists and performers to sell their own works. "The new version of the ordinance would state that no commercial activity could occur, except with limited exceptions," Brown said, and officials described an authorship check (photo identification and proof of creation) for sellers who claim to be the creators of the work.

Speakers opposing the ordinance argued it would eliminate income opportunities for small vendors and craftspeople and could chill the boardwalk’s economic and cultural vibrancy. "The elimination of the vendors will take away a great hobby and a source of income for hundreds of vendors," a vendor said, noting some sellers use the boardwalk to launch storefront businesses. Supporters—including merchants and arts advocates—said unregulated commercial sales had crowded out performers and artists and unfairly competed with established storefronts. Several councilmembers acknowledged the difficulty of defining "artist" versus "craft" and urged further refinement, with one pledge to develop a city‑sponsored crafts bazaar as an alternative venue. After council debate and public comment the ordinance was adopted (roll call recorded 12 ayes).