FULLERTON, California (September 16, 2023) – The City of Fullerton’s Code Enforcement Division, alongside the Fullerton Police Department, Public Works, and Orange County Health Care Agency, coordinated a citywide effort to address the growing number of unpermitted food vendors in the city. The City of Fullerton is committed to ensuring that all business establishments located in the city have obtained the proper permits for the health and safety of all business patrons and members of the public. A total of eleven street vendors were shut down in Fullerton between Thursday, September 14 and Friday, September 15, 2023.
On both nights, Code Enforcement staff provided verbal Notice of Violation and educational information and the OC Health Department issued notices to impound all product and equipment. The operators were informed regarding the process to retrieve the items. “I want to thank the Orange County Health Care Agency and our Code Enforcement staff for focusing on food safety practices for the healthiness of our public,” said Mayor Fred Jung. “Determining compliance with health and safety code requirements is critical for safe food temperatures, safe food handling and property hygiene to ensure the public is accessing safe products.”
In 2019, California law changed to decriminalize sidewalk vending. In response, the City of Fullerton amended the Fullerton Municipal Code in September 2020 to allow sidewalk vendors to operate with proper permits. The code requires vendors to meet specified health and safety standards. The Orange County Health Care Agency is responsible for the enforcement of these types of business establishments throughout Orange County to ensure that they have obtained the necessary permits and that all applicable health requirements are being met.
The City of Fullerton’s Code Enforcement Division responds to complaints from the public by coordinating with the OC Health Care Agency to conduct the proper enforcement efforts. Upon inspection, Code Enforcement staff will provide vendors with educational materials that outline the process for obtaining the necessary permits to operate in a safe and legal manner. If the vendors are on private property, Code Enforcement will also notify the property owner that they cannot allow that use without obtaining all the required permits and approval. If a business is interested in more information on the permitting process, they may obtain contact City of Fullerton Business Registration at 714-738-6531, email SidewalkVendorPermits@CityofFullerton.com or visit CityofFullerton.com/sidewalkvending.
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