LA County, city offer free health-compliant food carts under new vending program

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Street vendors in Los Angeles County now have the opportunity to get a health code-compliant food cart for free.

At least 280 California state health code-compliant food carts are being given away as part of the new Sidewalk Vending Cart Program, which went into effect in August 2024. The ordinance established a formal process for sidewalk vendors to operate legally in the county.

To receive a cart, applicants must be 18 years or older, live in L.A. County, be self-employed as a sidewalk vendor, earn less than $75,000 annually from vending, operate within either unincorporated Los Angeles County or the City of L.A. and commit to full compliance with public health and safety regulations.

Awardees will need to obtain the required permits in order to begin operating their carts as fully permitted businesses.

The program is designed to help vendors meet the new legal requirements for sidewalk vending as well as overcome financial barriers and operate safely and legally in their communities.

The application period opened Monday and will continue while supplies last.

To apply, go to https://opportunity.lacounty.gov/sidewalkvendingcarts.