After five years of organizing by DC Street Vendors, the DC Council voted unanimously today to pass The Street Vendor Advancement Amendment Act of 2023, which decriminalizes street vending and creates a blueprint for regulatory transformation and city investments in public spaces and street vendors.
Street vending has long been a pathway to economic independence for poor and working class workers, but for decades DC street vendors have suffered discriminatory barriers to obtaining vending licenses, as well as harassment and violence from the police. BCI, in partnership with a diverse group of more than 50 vendors, celebrates the successful campaign to decriminalize street vending and remove regulatory barriers to accessing vending licenses.
The Street Vendor Advancement Amendment Act of 2023:
Decriminalizes vending without a license
Reduces license costs from more than $2,000 to less than $300
Reforms the city’s cottage food laws, allowing street vendors to start and operate a food business from their home kitchen
Removes criminal background check requirements for obtaining licenses
Forgives vending fines and unpaid sales tax dating back to 2010
Creates new vending zones that allow vendors to participate in self-management of the street
Today, we celebrate with vendors who have worked so hard to achieve this goal! With the passage of these new vending laws, DC has joined NYC and LA as the third major city to overhaul its streetvendor licensing regulations. To learn more about street vending in DC, please check out BCI’s reports.