{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-37-131.08a","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 37-131.08a","heading":"Sidewalk vending zones and licensing.","body":"(a)\nThe Mayor may establish sidewalk vending zones through rulemaking. For each sidewalk vending zone, the Mayor shall:\n(1)\nEstablish vending locations, pursuant to an approved vending site plan submitted by a sidewalk vending zone manager; provided, that no vending cart, stand, or table shall be located within:\n(A)\n20 feet of a driveway entrance to a police or fire station;\n(B)\n10 feet of any other driveway;\n(C)\n10 feet of an alley;\n(D)\n20 feet of a street-level entry to a Metrorail escalator;\n(E)\n10 feet of a street-level door to a Metrorail elevator;\n(F)\nA marked loading zone, entrance zone, or parking space designated for diplomatic parking, or other curbside location restricted for certain vehicles or uses;\n(G)\n10 feet of a fire hydrant or in-ground fire standpipe;\n(H)\n5 feet from a building's marked fire control room; or\n(I)\nA Metrobus Stop Zone, a commuter bus zone, an intercity bus zone, or other curbside zone specifically designated and demarcated as being for transit use;\n(2)\nPermit sidewalk vendors to alternate from one vending location to another within the same sidewalk vending zone, pursuant to an approved vending site plan submitted by a sidewalk vending zone manager;\n(3)\nRequire all sidewalk vendors to conspicuously display a basic business license and any other legally required permits or certificates; and\n(4)\nRequire all sidewalk vendors to vend from a temporary table or a vending cart that contains no motor or open fires, is able to be moved by hand, and is no more than 4 feet in width and 4 feet in length, unless the vendor vends food from a vending cart, in which case the vending cart shall not exceed 5 feet in width and 8 feet in length and 8 feet 6 inches in height from the bottom of the tire.\n\n(b)\n(1)\nThe following persons may submit a written request to the Mayor for the establishment of a sidewalk vending zone, the establishment of vending spaces within a proposed sidewalk vending zone, or the establishment of or changes to vending spaces within an existing sidewalk vending zone:\n(A)\nAn affected Advisory Neighborhood Commission;\n(B)\nAn organization incorporated under the laws of the District, the members of which are sidewalk vendors;\n(C)\nA non-profit incorporated under the laws of the District that provides services or technical assistance to sidewalk vendors;\n(D)\nA citizens association incorporated under the laws of the District located within the affected area; or\n(E)\nA Business Improvement District within the affected area. For purposes of this paragraph, the term \"Business Improvement District\" shall have the same meaning as set forth in § 2-1215.02(7).\n(2)\nThe Mayor shall solicit community input and respond in writing to a request made pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection within 60 days of its receipt. If the request is denied, the written response shall provide an explanation for the decision.\n\n(c)\n(1)\nEach sidewalk vending zone shall be supervised by a sidewalk vending zone manager, which may be either:\n(A)\nAn employee of the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection; or\n(B)\nA private organization contracted for such purposes, as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection.\n(2)\nFor a sidewalk vending zone authorized by this section or § 37-131.08b, the Mayor may contract or enter into a memorandum of understanding with a private organization to serve as a sidewalk vending zone manager.\n(3)\nThe Mayor shall give preference to organizations that have a demonstrated history of working with, or providing services and technical assistance to, sidewalk vendors.\n\n(d)\n(1)\nA sidewalk vending zone manager shall:\n(A)\nSubmit to the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection a vending site plan, which shall include vending cart and vending table design standards;\n(A-i)\nEnforce the vending site plan, including by reviewing and approving vendors' vending cart and vending table specifications and designs in accordance with the approved vending site plan;\n(B)\nProvide accurate contact information of any onsite personnel to each vendor in a sidewalk vending zone;\n(C)\nDevelop and maintain policies and procedures to respond to and mediate disputes between sidewalk vendors in a sidewalk vending zone, which shall be written and shall be provided to each vendor in a sidewalk vending zone in his or her preferred language;\n(D)\nMaintain an accurate list of sidewalk vendors operating within a sidewalk vending zone, including contact information and basic information on items being sold by each sidewalk vendor;\n(E)\nMaintain a daily log of supervision activity, including information on technical assistance provided to sidewalk vendors, mediations conducted, and corrective actions taken to ensure sidewalk vendors are in compliance with the law and regulations;\n(F)\nProvide technical support to sidewalk vendors in a sidewalk vending zone, as needed;\n(G)\nTake all necessary and reasonable actions to ensure that a sidewalk vendor is compliant with all health laws and regulations;\n(H)\nSuccessfully pass an accredited Food Protection Manager Certification Program; and\n(I)\nObtain a public market manager's license from the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection.\n(2)\n(A)\nA vending site plan submitted pursuant to paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection shall contain a diagram of all sidewalk vending locations within the sidewalk vending zone. The diagram shall include the full name and license number of each vendor, as well as the approximate dimensions of any cart, stand or table used by each vendor.\n(B)\nThe Department shall approve or request modifications to a vending site plan within 7 business days of receipt. The Department shall only request modifications to a vending site plan when the plan conflicts with this chapter or presents an immediate and significant hazard to pedestrians, cyclists, or vehicular traffic.\n(C)\nA request for modifications shall be made in writing to the sidewalk vending zone manager and shall include the justification for the denial or requested modifications. The Department shall respond to any proposed modifications within 7 business days of receipt.\n(D)\nAny changes to a vending site plan must be approved by the Department before they may be implemented.\n(3)\n(A)\nThe list maintained pursuant to paragraph (1)(D) of this subsection shall include the full name, license number,  and a diagram of the vending location.\n(B)\nAny change of information shall be provided to the Department within 24 hours of that change.\n(4)\nAny documentation required pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be made available to the Mayor timely upon request.","path":["Title 37. Weights, Measures, Markets, and Vending.","Chapter 1A. Vending Regulation."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/37-131.08a","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"b1542c08abd7f02f2ec8599a448cc4d9e83f448af8a2e62385f12f121de2f217","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-37-131.08","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-37-131.08b"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}