Charlotte City Council to vote on tougher street vending rules

CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Street vending in Charlotte could soon face stricter rules, as the City Council is set to vote on changes to the city’s street vending ordinance.

The council will hear a presentation and hold a discussion during its regular business meeting to consider proposed updates to local laws regulating peddlers and vendors, especially in high-traffic areas like Uptown and North Davidson Street.

At the heart of the proposal are efforts to address safety and congestion concerns raised by residents, small businesses, and even street vendors themselves.

A public input session held last month highlighted two main issues: ongoing violations with little enforcement power, and challenges from vending in crowded areas with narrow sidewalks.

The city is considering the following changes:

• Higher fines: Fines for illegal street vending could jump from $10-$50 to as much as $500 per violation
• New restricted area: North Davidson Street Market would be added to the city’s Congested Business District, where street vending is currently prohibited without a permit
• Pilot program: The changes would start as a six-month pilot program

Currently, vending is banned in the Congested Business District except in the Tryon Street Mall area, where vendors can operate legally with a city-issued permit.

Mayor Vi Lyles asked the City’s Housing, Safety, and Community Committee back in April to explore how to strengthen the city’s vending rules. After several meetings and a public hearing, the HSC Committee voted unanimously to recommend the proposed changes.

Monday evening’s meeting includes a 10-minute presentation from city staff, followed by 15 minutes of council discussion before a vote.