Buena Park is the latest city in Orange County to start cracking down on street vendors operating without sidewalk permits – giving code enforcement officers the authority to impound equipment and goods sold as part of new city regulations.

Last week, Buena Park City Council members voted 4-1 to approve updating city laws to curb unpermitted taco vendors, paleteros – pushcart vendors who often sell packaged food like ice cream – and other street vendors. 

“I would like to see somewhat of pathway for these people to conduct business legally with the city,” Councilman Carlos Franco said during the Jan. 28 city council meeting.

Franco – the sole dissenting vote for a crackdown on street vendors – said “if there was no demand for it, they wouldn’t be here.”

At the same meeting, Councilman Connor Traut said the tighter restrictions aren’t a way to discourage street vending, but to make it clear that those wanting to do business in Buena Park must apply for a city permit.

Traut, who voted for the street vending crackdown, said other street vendors, like those selling flowers or individual packaged fruit, are part of the community.

Proponents of street vendors have long argued crackdowns will impact immigrants and low-income communities, particularly in cities like Buena Park.

Mai Do, research and policy manager at the Harbor Institute for immigration and economic justice, said in a Thursday phone interview that cities should focus more on fostering an environment for street vendors to thrive, including offering services to help vendors with the permitting process.

“For local leaders who claim to support working people and entrepreneurs, it’s really not sound policy, either economically or morally, to create restrictions that result in people falling into more impoverishment,” they said.

Tighter Street Vending Restrictions Across OC

The trend to tighten street vending laws follows other OC city officials who began laying the groundwork over the past two years to tighten regulations for street vendors.

Since 2023, cities like Stanton, Orange, Laguna Hills, Placentia, Anaheim and Rancho Santa Margarita have amended their codes to allow for the confiscation of food and equipment.

Do said that since many OC cities have taken it upon themselves to tighten restrictions on street vending only make it more difficult for vendors to know if they’re following the law.

For example, in Buena Park, food trucks can still do business under the new city regulations. But in Placentia, food truck owners are prohibited from setting up shop on the sidewalk.

New Regulations in Buena Park

During last Tuesday’s city council meeting, Matt Foulkes, Buena Park’s director of community and economic development, highlighted that acquiring a sidewalk vending permit can be challenging for street food vendors.

Foulkes added that the city could look into offering multilingual flyers on getting a sidewalk permit to provide code enforcement officers when patrolling for street vendors.

But, he also said it likely would be difficult for food vendors since acquiring a permit to sell fresh food requires permission from the Orange County Health Agency, on top of an additional city permit needed to legally operate. 

“For those trying to sell food in some legal capacity, the amount of information they have to provide is, in many cases, restrictive,” Foulkes said.

In the past, Buena Park City Council members have argued that restricting sidewalk vending is an issue of public safety – citing fears of not being compliant with disability laws, concerns of waste removal being improperly disposed of and cleanliness of food preparation practices.

[Read: Buena Park Considers Cracking Down on Gas Lawn Mowers, Street Vending]

But Do, from the Harbor Institute, said that government officials often “scapegoat” street vendors who likely are immigrants instead of holding themselves accountable.

“It’s really incumbent for local officials to make operating a business in their city less confusing, and to ensure everyone understands the opportunities and responsibilities as business owners.”

Hugo Rios is a Voice of OC reporting fellow. Contact him at hugo.toni.rios@gmail.com or on Twitter @hugoriosss.