WILLITS, CA., 12/9/25 – The Willits City Council is considering approving a street vending ordinance Wednesday that will enforce specific guidelines for mobile vendors in the city.
The decision to alter the city’s street vending policy aligns with California’s Senate Bill 946, a sidewalk vending act passed in 2018 that decriminalized street vending and restricts local governments from entirely banning sidewalk vending.
At the last Willits City Council meeting on Nov. 12, Swetha Hiranya Venuturupalli, senior city planner for the city of Willits, gave recommendations to the council on amending its street vending policy. City staff made some modifications to the wording and on Wednesday, the council could give the ordinance its final approval.
The staff report on the ordinance reads, “Due to increased interest in mobile food vendors and the city’s existing regulations being outdated, as well as recent updates to state law, the City Council directed staff to prepare amendments to the municipal code to better regulate and accommodate mobile vendors operating both on private property and within the public right-of-way.”
The ordinance will focus on different kinds of vendors, such as mobile vendors and street vendors. The ordinance defines a mobile vending unit as a motorized food truck or trailer. A street vendor is a person who sells food or merchandise from a pushcart, stand, display, pedal-driven cart, wagon, or other non-motorized units.
One of the rules in the new ordinance states that mobile vendors cannot vend on Main Street and are also restricted from operating within 100 feet of Main and Commercial streets. Another guideline states that mobile vendors cannot obstruct pedestrian or vehicular pathways and must comply with California Fire Code regulations when using open flames or cooking equipment. Mobile vendors also cannot operate within 350 feet of elementary schools or within 400 feet of middle and high schools.
For street vendors, also called sidewalk vendors, no more than two stationary carts may operate on one block. Street vendors cannot vend within 300 feet of a city-approved event, and cannot vend within 500 feet of K-12 schools between the hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Ukiah City Council also discussed amendments to its vendor policy at its meeting on Nov. 19.
The Willits City Council meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at Council Chambers, 111 E. Commercial St. Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. Public comments can be emailed to council members or by calling (707) 459-4601.