LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Clark County on Tuesday introduced new rules for street vendors, but those vendors said the rules should be sent back to the drawing board.
Under the new ordinance, county commissioners unanimously approved making rainbow-colored umbrellas selling fruit, fried snacks and shaved ice underneath them legal in unincorporated Clark County. The operation was and remains illegal until the ordinance comes into effect on April 30.
To commissioners Tuesday morning, vendors acknowledged the need for this legal path to business, but said some aspects are so restrictive that they can’t support themselves financially.
New regulations for street vendors approved by Clark County
First, the ordinance prohibits this operation in locations where sellers say they see the most customers, including near the Las Vegas Strip, Allegiant Stadium, houses of worship, public parks and schools.
They are also not allowed to be active after 9 p.m. Multiple business and health permits and licenses are also required, which come with fees.
If you break these rules, sellers who don’t follow the rules could face a $500 fine, up to six months in jail, or both.
Street vendors like Maria joined a line of about 50 people who wanted to express their opinions about the ordinance to the commissioners.
“If you do not allow us to sell where you prevent us from selling, you do not allow us to generate revenue to pay all the expenses and costs that you ask of us,” Maria said in Spanish as he addressed commissioners on Tuesday.
The Latin Chamber of Commerce defended the 2023 law — SB 92 — that requires each jurisdiction in Clark and Washoe counties to create its own rules. CEO Peter Guzman said that since then more and more suppliers have signed up to become members.
“You can’t turn the other cheek. This is an issue in every state in this country,” Guzman said in the chamber on Wednesday morning. “It made sense to say, ‘Let’s make these people pay taxes, get a business license and do business like you do here.’”
The eyes of Guzman and other Latino business advocates are now on the eventual rollout of the rules and their enforcement.
LVMPD indicated to 8 News Now on Wednesday that they have an enforcement plan in place without specifying details.
While Nevada Senator Fabian Donate was instrumental in the passage of the state law in 2023, he remains skeptical about whether these new rules will be effective in balancing the needs of these suppliers.
“What I ultimately don’t want is a situation where we have devastated these families. These families have lost their only source of income simply because we haven’t done our homework,” Donate said during a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, expressing his disgust at the way the Southern Nevada Health District is helping to allow these sellers.
“It’s not perfect yet, but now you have a legal way to do business and go before (government) authorities and say, ‘Hey, this works, but this doesn’t,’” Guzman said. “These (sellers) will now form an association, I am sure. They are going to work with the chambers and we are going to fight to make things better.”
Sellers are specifically looking for changes in distancing requirements for parks and schools, which they say are the safest locations to sell. Several told commissioners they have been attacked or robbed in areas where these new rules are pushing them.
Commissioners acknowledged they are willing to revisit the rules later after they take effect, but did not acknowledge how far along that would be. The cities of Henderson, North Las Vegas and Las Vegas tell 8 News Now they have no timetable for when they will adopt their specific rules.
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