Fundraiser launches to help street food vendors struggling to pay licensing fees

Cost for licensing continues to be the biggest challenge for sidewalk vendors looking to get their carts licensed, as the small business owners make just enough to sustain their families.

When Clark County Commissioners approved the requirements for sidewalk food vendors in April, many vendors told the board that the licensing fees and cost to bring their food carts up to code would be a big challenge for them. 

Make the Road Nevada, an immigrant rights advocacy nonprofit, said the estimated $1,500 cost for all the licenses and permits, plus the thousands a commercial grade cart could cost, has proven to be a barrier for many vendors since the license was established. In response, the group launched the Sidewalk Vendor Fundraiser Campaign on Tuesday, with donations going towards covering license application fees and cart costs for sidewalk vendors in the state. 

In the last three months, only a handful of sidewalk food vendors have applied for Clark County’s license to legally sell their snacks, even though there are over 1,000 businesses in the industry in Nevada, according to an IBISWorld report. The low participation rate reflects that only a few vendors feel financially comfortable paying the steep fees, Make the Road Nevada spokesperson Jose Rivera said during Tuesday’s press conference. 

“Empowering our sidewalk vendors is crucial for fostering thriving, diverse communities across Nevada. By supporting these entrepreneurs, we help them achieve their dreams and enrich our local economy and culture,” said Leo Murrieta, director of Make the Road Nevada, added in a statement. “This fundraiser will ensure that sidewalk vendors have the necessary resources and guidance to succeed, promoting fairness and opportunity for all.”

Cristina Parra Hernandez, a prospective street food vendor, said the process is intimidating because the fees and requirements — such as having a handwashing station if preparing food at the cart and having commercial grade equipment — makes the small, mobile businesses feel like they are treated as brick and mortar restaurants.

“They demand a lot. [It’s] as if you had a restaurant when in reality it is a mobile stand … Of course, have your water tank and have everything established so that your cart passes the inspection, but it shouldn’t be so expensive,” said Parra Hernandez. “They should take into account that we are not a restaurant, they are small stands. Yet, it’s thousands of dollars that one really doesn’t have — people have to pay rent, bills, food.”

Make the Road said the fundraiser does not have a monetary goal, as they do not want to limit how many people they can help. The group will also be offering one-on-one appointments to help vendors navigate the application process in Spanish, as the regulations and requirements have also been deemed confusing and strict. 

Just last month, the Los Angeles City Council drastically reduced the annual street vending permit cost from $541 to a more affordable $27.51 — which gave advocates a glimmer of hope for the future of licensing costs in southern Nevada. 

“[The fundraiser] is a step, naturally, towards justice and equity for all of us,” said Teodora Tepetzi, a street food vendor and Make the Road advocate during the press conference. “With this fund and continued support, it will bring our dreams of legally and fearlessly selling in our communities closer to being a reality.”