Sidewalk Vending Enforcement
ENFORCEMENT LEADS
Two departments handle enforcement for sidewalk vending:
- The Business Services Bureau (Financial Management Department) enforces the Sidewalk Vending Ordinance (LBMC Section 5.73).
- The Health Department enforces the California State Health and Safety Code related to food safety.
For more complex enforcement situations—such as food or equipment disposal—a Complaint Response Team is initiated, collaborating across multiple departments, including the Safety Office, Police Department, and Public Works alongside Financial Management and Health.
ENFORCEMENT FRAMEWORK:
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The current framework follows an escalating process—starting with education, then issuing notices of violation, followed by administrative citations, and, in some cases, impounding equipment and discarding food when there are significant compliance issues.
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Complaint-Based Model: Due to limited staff and based on current resources available, a complaint-based model is utilized. Enforcement prioritizes areas with the highest complaint volumes.
For more information, check out the Enforcement FAQs
HOW TO REPORT VIOLATIONS
To report sidewalk vending violations or food safety concerns:
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Preferred Method:Submit complaints via the Go Long Beach App. Please note: If a complaint is marked as “closed” in the Go Long Beach App, this means the interdepartmental Sidewalk Vending Team has reviewed the complaint. While it may not result in immediate action, the location is now being tracked and included in the analysis used to identify high-priority areas for enforcement.
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Alternative Options:
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Business License Division: Call (562) 570-6211 or email FMSidewalkVending@longbeach.gov
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Health Department: Call (562) 570-4132 or email HE-SidewalkVending@longbeach.gov
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ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS DATA AND MAP
Explore the interactive map to view enforcement actions taken by the City’s Business License and Health teams since the implementation of the Sidewalk Vending Ordinance. You can filter by date, type of enforcement action, and location to see where and how enforcement efforts have been carried out across the City. Map will be updated on a weekly basis.
https://longbeachca.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/6fbe3650fec141afb07aabab5c3e96d7
