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Alameda County board conducts first reading of amendments to sidewalk vending ordinance, sets $273.73 annual permit fee
Summary
County staff presented amendments to repeal and reenact sidewalk vending rules, add a $273.73 annual permit covering enforcement and clerical costs, and require 30-day public posting for regulatory updates. The board conducted a first reading and voted unanimously to proceed.
Alameda County officials on Oct. 9 began implementation steps for revised sidewalk vending rules intended to increase oversight and public notice. Ed Labayog, Alameda County code enforcement manager, told the Board of Supervisors the Community Development Agency will implement a repealed-and-reenacted Chapter 3.36 and that code enforcement will administer compliance in partnership with environmental health and the sheriff’s office.
The staff proposal would establish an annual sidewalk-vending permit fee of $273.73 “to cover one hour of code enforcement staff time and a half-hour of clerical support,” Labayog said. He also described a new notification process requiring proposed regulation changes to be posted on the county website for at least 30 calendar days and shared with affected municipal advisory committees for review and public comment.
Supervisor Miley pressed staff on the timeline for adopting rules and beginning enforcement, saying constituents are frustrated that the ordinance adopted Sept. 11 has not been fully implemented. Labayog said the ordinance’s second reading occurred on Sept. 11 and would be effective Oct. 11; he estimated roughly 60 days to complete related regulations and begin full administration, though some enforcement is happening under public-health code today.
After questions about language access, permit locations and comparative fees in nearby cities, Supervisor Miley moved and Supervisor Tam seconded the board action to proceed with the first reading and adoption steps. The motion passed on a unanimous roll-call vote.
The board’s action starts the formal rulemaking and fee-adoption process; staff said outreach materials and application forms will be translated initially into Spanish and additional languages will be explored. The Community Development Agency also said it is coordinating with economic-development staff to produce materials for vendors interested in transitioning to formal business operation.
The board did not set a specific effective date for the new fee beyond the regulatory adoption timeline; staff said they will return with the full regulations and administrative details during the rule-adoption process.
