NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Sidewalk vendors have long been a staple of the Las Vegas Valley, offering affordable and convenient food options to the community. But for many, the path to operating legally has been an uphill battle.
Seventeen months after Senate Bill 92 was signed into law, aimed at regulating and decriminalizing sidewalk vending, progress has been slow. Only eight vendors have successfully obtained licenses through the Southern Nevada Health District, highlighting the challenges of compliance.
One of those vendors is Jeselia Rodriguez, who runs “Pop’s Street Eats” in North Las Vegas, selling coffee, hot dogs, and nachos. Rodriguez says it took her months of navigating legal hurdles and spending over $1800 to finally secure all of the permits she needed.
“It can get expensive, especially if you don’t have the proper equipment. The licensing too, sometimes if you don’t process it correctly, a lot of times it costs more to get things adjusted”, Rodriguez said. “I know for my from start to finish I would probably say it took about six months.”
While vendors like Rodriguez have managed to overcome the barriers, enforcement against unlicensed vending has ramped up. According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, there were 16 arrests or citations for unlicensed vending in the five months before Clark County’s ordinance went into effect on April 30, 2024. That number has since climbed to over 50 in the five months following its implementation.
The city of North Las Vegas is working to assist vendors through its Small Business Connector program, offering free resources and guidance to those looking to navigate the licensing process.
What really allows us to help the sidewalk is understanding the proper sequence right from getting the right information to completing the first step all the way to the very last step and then the help that we can provide beyond with one-on-one coaching marketing, advice, sales strategy, all of that, said Carlos Mejia Castillo, Lead Business Development Advisor.
Rodriguez says the process wasn’t easy, but she’s relieved to finally operate legally.
“It’s a family ran business there’s no big corporations no big investors, its literally just me and my parents running out every day with the cart,” Rodriguez said.
As enforcement increases and the rollout of licenses remains slow, the future for many street vendors in the Las Vegas Valley remains uncertain
To make an appointment with the Small Business Connector, vendors can visit the city of North Las Vegas website, or call (702) 633-1365.
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