Slight variations in street vendor regulations per city could make big difference, says vendor
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Street vendors across the Las Vegas valley may face potential impacts from the slight variations in the upcoming new set of street vendor regulations.
Two months following the implementation of street vendor regulations in unincorporated Clark County, nearby cities are preparing to approve their own, with slight changes that could significantly impact vendors, according to local reports.
Since the approval of initial rules by Clark County commissioners in mid-April, only a handful of permits have been issued, including one to Paletas Y Aguas, a popular father-son operation in Southern Highlands.
They operate on private property and pay rent to the owner which allows them to vend under current regulations legally. Alan Carrera and his father, Jose Manuel Carrera, are reveling the success of their first two weeks while already looking ahead to expansion.
“We have a few of these carts, and I really want to put them in different cities,” Jose said, referencing the cart behind him selling frozen and iced fruit drinks.
“We’re trying to do things the right way still, so we’re going to get those permits,” Alan said.
Those business permits would come from the nearby jurisdictions that have yet to approve their own rules, as Nevada legislators required when passing Senate Bill 92 also known as Street Vendor Bill in 2023.
The upcoming ordinances in these cities are expected to mirror Clark County’s framework but with slight differences. For instance, regulations regarding operating hours and insurance requirements may vary among cities. Henderson, for example, is contemplating a mandate that vendors relocate every thirty minutes unless they have special permits or private agreements.
Jose noted that he will not vend in Henderson if he is unable to work under a private agreement and instead is forced to adhere to the 30-minute relocation rule.
“These carts are really heavy. 900 pounds, a thousand maybe. It’s impossible for you to push a cart and a generator. You need a generator to run the equipment,” Jose said. “It seems like the city just wants to put a stop to this. ‘Don’t do it. We’ll give you permission to do it,’ but at the same time, 30 minutes, it’s just not fair.”
Other legal vendors also agree and believe legal operations could get messy without uniform rules.
Any inconsistencies will add to the “confusion” vendors are already enduring, said Tony Ramirez, government affairs manager for Make the Road Nevada.
“Why participate in a system that is not allowing them to make a living?” Ramirez said. “There should be hundreds (of legal street vendors) when in fact there’s only a couple. If that’s not sounding the alarm on revisiting the ordinance, I don’t think anything else will.”
Council members of neighboring cities prepare to vote on their ordinances—Las Vegas on August 21, North Las Vegas on July 17, and Henderson potentially as early as Tuesday at 4 p.m.
Stay tuned for updates as Southern Nevada cities finalize their street vendor regulations.
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