Open Access

These are regulations to keep in mind when designing your business plan.

When is vending permitted?

Don't be a litterbug!

Each conveyance must have an accessible publicly-accessible trash container. No smaller than 4 ft. tall, 2 ft. wide, 1 ft. deep.
Must pick up and remove all trash from vending sales, without being deposited in public waste receptacles.
Vendors must remove all grease, water, food or food scraps, cooking wastes and litter from operational areas at least daily.

Where can I vend?

Outside of special vending districts, vending locations must be 100 ft. from any other vending conveyance, and no more than 2 locations are allowed on each side of any given block.
No vendor can sell food, stand, park, place, or allow conveyance to be closer than 100 ft. from any business selling prepared food items.
Cannot vend within 20 ft. from any building entrance, exit, or alcove, driveway, mailbox, traffic signal, bus stop, or loading zone.
Cannot be located within 20 ft. of any intersection or within 20 ft. of any fire hydrant.
Vending cannot obstruct free flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

Vending is prohibited in the following locations:

Either side of Broadway between York Street and Broadway’s interaction with Whalley, Goffe, and Dixwell Avenues.
Either side of Elm Street between York Street and Park Street
Either side of Chapel Street between Temple Street and Park Street.
In all residential districts and all PDDs (planned development districts) and PDUs (planned unit development), unless otherwise specifically permitted by ordinance.
School grounds, unless part of a school-authorized function.
City parks, unless permitted by the director of parks.
On sidewalks and streets within 25 ft. of a city park, unless permitted by the director of parks in conjunction with a city-permitted event.

Keep your ID on hand!

Vendors must visibly display a vending license and, if applicable, its parking site license or sidewalk license while conducting business.
Vendors must wear a photo ID badge on persons vending at all times while conducting business.
Vendors must keep a copy of their current insurance and health permit on their conveyance, and present them to an inspector upon request.

Your vending setup:

As a vendor, you cannot make any noises that would be considered a nuisance to others, use any sound-amplifying device, including a radio or music, or use flashing or moving lights. Non-flashing stationary lights to illuminate conveyance are permitted solely during night- time vending operations.
Your items for sale must be contained within the vendor conveyance: you are not permitted to sell outside of your truck or pushcart.
No dining area provided by the vendor is allowed: this includes tables and chairs, booths, stand-up counters, benches, bar stools—unless a proposal for such seating arrangements is submitted with the permit application and approved by the city.
Any awning or umbrella attached must be at least 7 ft. above the sidewalk.
Public right-of-way from damage due to vending operation must be protected.
Vendors must indemnify, defend, and save harmless the city and its officers, agents, and employees against actions, lawsuits, damages, etc.
Generators used by vendors must be well maintained and must comply with the city’s noise ordinance. Vendors must make good-faith efforts to mitigate or reduce generator noise.
Vending is forbidden adjacent to the New Haven Green during a declared festival: notice of these events must be published in the major city newspapers and be declared at least one week before the event.

Want to Avoid Fines?