Street Vending

Summary

This document updates the Safety Committee on street vending policies and actions taken since April 2025. Key actions included expanding the Congested Business District (CBD) to include parts of NoDa, increasing fines for street vending violations to a maximum of $500, and establishing a six-month pilot vendor program in NoDa which opened its permit portal on July 30th and began operations on September 1st, 2025. The NoDa pilot is set to conclude on February 15th, 2026. The report highlights successes such as a perceived reduction in unpermitted vendors and fewer confrontations, but also challenges including continued unpermitted vending in Uptown and NoDa, relocation of vendors to South End, and equity concerns from brick-and-mortar businesses. Lessons learned indicate limited enforcement capabilities beyond citations and a non-mobile-friendly permitting system. Benchmarking against other cities shows Charlotte has less stringent, city-wide restrictions. The committee is considering three policy options: 1) sunsetting the NoDa Market pilot program due to infrastructure constraints, 2) expanding street vending regulation beyond the CBD, with a staff recommendation for city-wide expansion with exceptions for non-profit managed programs and festivals, and 3) establishing a misdemeanor (Class III) enforcement option for unpermitted vending to deter repeat offenders.

Citizen Impact

Residents may see fewer unpermitted street vendors in certain areas, but also potential for increased regulation and enforcement city-wide. The NoDa pilot program is ending, and a decision on broader regulations and stricter penalties for illegal vending is pending.

Confidence

high