CHARLOTTE — Street vending on Charlotte city streets and sidewalks is banned and restricted to pre-approved areas as of Monday under new regulations implemented by the Charlotte City Council.
Council members said the objective of the ordinance is to establish structure for local vendors rather than eliminate street vending in the city.
The designated vending locations are currently centered in the congested business district of Uptown Charlotte.
While a framework exists for additional areas to obtain permits in the future, the timeline for establishing new vendor zones is not yet clear.
[ PREVIOUS COVERAGE:How a vote to ban street vending citywide could impact Charlotte vendors ]
As part of the ordinance changes, the City Council removed criminal penalties associated with vending violations.
Council Member Dimple Ajmera, a Democratic at-large representative who made the motion to eliminate criminal charges, said the city should focus on helping vendors follow regulations.
“I firmly believe that we should not criminalize entrepreneurs,” Ajmera said. “We need to find ways to streamline our processes, work with partners to ensure they can get a permit.”
Under the updated rules, vendors who violate the ordinance face civil fines of up to $500 per violation and may eventually lose their vending license.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is creating a system to track violations. Addressing concerns that civil fines may fail to deter violators, Ajmera emphasized the importance of tracking citations.
“That’s where the civil citations are important,” Ajmera said. “These civil citations, we will be tracking them,” Ajmera added, saying she is open to reconsidering criminal penalties if repeat offenders become a major issue.
District seven Rep. Ed Driggs, a Republican council member, raised concerns that some vendors might ignore citations or pay fines while continuing to operate without compliance.
“We have to give police some sort of enforcement authority,” Driggs said. “Some power to insist when certain people don’t comply, that they move or stop.”
Jennifer Bradford is a street vendor in Plaza Midwood who participates in local pop-up markets. Bradford said the regulations bring pros and cons, but she does not expect the restrictions to significantly affect her business.
“Structure is always good,” Bradford said. “I don’t have a problem with it, with what I do. I participate in a lot of pop-up markets.”