Street vendor rules go into effect as vendors fear minimum $1,500 licensing costs

Ryan Matthey
·3 min read

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Street vendors in unincorporated Clark County are seemingly less visible than usual as rules to regulate them go into effect.

Clark County Commissioners approved their own set of rules in mid-April. Each jurisdiction in Clark and Washoe Counties is required to do so following the 2023 passage of Senate Bill 92.

The mid-April passage came after hours of contentious public comment from both vendors claiming the rules were too restrictive and brick-and-mortar business owners who believe they’re not strict enough. Commissioners ultimately approved the ordinance containing the rules unanimously.

For vendors, the points of controversy boil down to distance and licensing requirements. Schools and parks are where they say they make their most money, but per the ordinance, they are required to remain:

  • 1,500 feet from resort hotels, event facilities that have at least 20,000 seats, convention facilities operated by the Las Vegas Convention Center, and the median of highways (like where the Welcome to Las Vegas Sign is located)

  • 500 feet from pedestrian malls and entertainment centers, schools (until at least 30 minutes after class ends), childcare facilities, and any county park, recreation center, and community center

  • 150 feet from another sidewalk vendor, another restaurant in operation, establishments with gaming licenses, entrances to emergency response structures, and sidewalk/street closures

Licensing is one of the most expensive aspects of the rules that vendors have not had to follow before. They also are required to maintain insurance deemed in the ordinance:

  • Nevada State Business License: $200 annually

  • Clark County Business License: $150 annually (if applying online and with a credit card, an additional $50.17 is applied)

  • Southern Nevada Health District License: $863.38 (this includes a one-time review fee of $487.38, then the annual $376 fee)

  • General liability insurance: $300 – $5,000 annually (according to generalliabilityshop.com)

In total, first-time applicants can expect to pay a minimum of over $1500 to come into compliance. Some fees, like the health district license, offer payment plans.

Bertin Gonzalez said he’s been a vendor in Clark County for six years as the sole breadwinner for his wife and two daughters. Though he assures he will at least apply for them, he said he can’t make that money unless he keeps working without the licenses in the meantime.

“It’s going to be a bit hard due to the fact that it’s not just those costs you have to put into consideration. You have to take into consideration the cost of the material. The cost of what we’re selling,” Gonzalez said in Spanish in the east valley Tuesday afternoon. “It’s not only me. Multiple street vendors are going to attempt to apply for these licenses. I’m going to try to continue operations in the meantime.”

Make the Road Nevada said they are connecting vendors – several who do not speak or comprehend fluent English – with what they need to legally acquire the licenses. But, Robert Garcia who is a lead organizer predicts the lessening amount of vendors seen on the streets compared to two weeks ago is a sign of fear.

“Their concern, their fear is very justified. They’re scared that they’re going to have their stuff confiscated,” Garcia said inside the Make the Road Nevada offices Tuesday afternoon. “This very strict ordinance has caused a lot of street vendors to think, can they be a street vendor?”

Clark County Commissioner Michael Naft indicated during the mid-April passage that the ordinance had the most “extensive outreach plan” of any in the county code. They further hosted a workshop for vendors to walk them through the application process last week.

Being found out of compliance can result in a $500 fine, jail time, or both. The cities of Henderson, North Las Vegas, and Las Vegas do not have set timelines for when they will adopt their own ordinances outlining rules to operate as a street vendor in their jurisdiction.

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