Committee approves port-only vending pilot to regulate waterfront street vending, citing SB 946 compliance and vendor outreach

The Land Use and Transportation Committee voted July 12 to send a port-only vending ordinance to the Board that would create a sidewalk vending pilot program along Port of San Francisco property.

Supervisor Aaron Peskin said the ordinance responds to a rise in unpermitted vending on waterfront property during the pandemic and is designed to comply with Senate Bill 946 (the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act), which decriminalized street vending in California but allows local regulation for public health and safety. Port staff (Rebecca Benancini and Boris Delapine) explained that complaints—particularly at Fisherman’s Wharf and the Ferry Building—have included traffic conflicts, potential food-safety and alcohol-sale violations, congestion near Pier 41 and pier-safety concerns on wooden piers.

The proposed ordinance creates a port-only permitting program that requires a prominently displayed mobile-vendor permit, business tax and registration and authorizes administrative citations for violations. Port staff described an implementation timeline aiming for a Port Commission action and a September program rollout. The City is engaging Mission Economic Development Agency to provide bilingual outreach, workshops and technical assistance to help vendors apply for permits and comply with public-health rules.

Public comment included extensive statements from waterfront stakeholders: Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District, Pier 39, Teamsters Local 665 and property managers described illicit vending as a daily problem with alleged extortion of vendors, unpaid taxes and safety concerns, and urged a regulated pilot. Worker-advocate and vendor-assistance groups also endorsed technical assistance to help vendors formalize operations. The committee adopted typos and nonsubstantive corrections, approved the measure and forwarded it to the Board with a positive recommendation.