The City of Brentwood allows permitted sidewalk and mobile vendors to operate in public rights-of-way and on public and private property. All operators must hold a valid permit to sell items such as art, food, clothing, and souvenirs. Sidewalk vendors utilize non-motorized conveyances like pushcarts, wagons, or racks, while mobile vendors operate from vehicles such as food trucks and specialty vans. Conducted without a required permit, these activities are not authorized within city limits.
*All permitted vendors are required to display their City and County permits while operating.
| Sample Contra Costa County Permit |
Sample City of Brentwood Permit |
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The Risks of Unlicensed Food Vending
Unpermitted pop-up food vendors bypass essential safety laws. Here is what you need to know to stay safe.
1. Serious Health Risks: Licensed and permitted sidewalk and mobile food vendors follow strict rules to ensure safe food handling. Unpermitted vendors pose significant health and safety risks.
- Lack Refrigeration: Without proper cooling, meat and condiments spoil quickly, leading to dangerous bateria growth.
- Unsafe Temperatures: Meat must be kept at specific temperature to be safe for consumption. Unpermitted vendors often fail to meet those standards.
- No Hygiene Stations: Unpermitted vendors lack hand-washing stations, making it impossible for workers to maintain cleanliness required to handle food.
2. Protecting Vulnerable Workers: In some cases, unpermitted vendors are part of larger, organized operations where the people on-site:
- Earn very little money.
- Are often exploited by those running the illegal operation.
- Work in poor and unhealthy conditions.
Signs of a trusted sidewalk vendor:
- A City of Brentwood Sidewalk Vending Permit visibly displayed on the cart, required for all sidewalk vendors operating in the city
- A Contra Costa County Health Department Permit displayed on the cart for any vendor selling food
- A purpose-built cart, wagon, pushcart, or rack rather than an improvised setup like folding tables, blankets on the ground, or goods laid against a wall
- A vendor who is either moving through the area or set up in a defined fixed spot and not selling from a parked vehicle
- A trash receptacle on or attached to the cart for customer use
- At least 48 inches of clear pedestrian path maintained around the cart at all times
- Operating within allowed hours, which are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. in non-residential areas and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in residential areas
- A location that makes sense, not positioned near school entrances, crosswalks, fire hydrants, or bus stops
Signs of a trusted mobile vendor:
- A City of Brentwood Mobile Vending Permit displayed within the vehicle, required for all mobile vendors operating in the city
- A Contra Costa County Health Department Permit displayed within the vehicle for any vendor selling food
- A named, identifiable business with signage and a consistent presence
- A proper commercial vehicle rather than a personal car, pickup bed, or improvised trunk operation
- Clean, covered food handling with gloves or utensils in use, food protected from the elements, and a trash receptacle available for customers
- A location that makes sense, not blocking a driveway, fire hydrant, crosswalk, or pedestrian path
