Vending in Public Right-of-Way

Our Vending Program has grown over time, offering steady opportunities to new and established small businesses. Most of our vending permits are issued for a specific location for a one-year period. To support these businesses as they build their customer base over time, we give preference to currently permitted vendors who submit on-time applications for their same site and same permitted days and hours for subsequent years.

For currently unpermitted sites, we use a simple lottery system when more than one application is received for the same site, days, and hours. This relieves vendors of the stress of a first come/first serve system and diminishes subjectivity during the permit review process.

One challenge we had before the recent pandemic, however, was how to increase opportunities for new vendors, particularly those with limited resources to commit to the uncertainty of a new site for a full year. We included one idea to meet this challenge into our 2023 transition plans – a 4-month trial permit. The idea was offered by one of our current vendors who took part in a small vendor advisory group in 2021.

What we’re proposing for 2023

Vendors experienced significant disruption to their business operations due to the pandemic. When the temporary Safe Start Program ends, we want to help vendors re-enter the new normal. To do this we will continue to offer one-on-one coaching while we streamline our application requirements. We plan to offer new temporary vending opportunities and remove some current restrictions to provide more opportunities for vending in Seattle. In addition, we will begin to allow vending of goods beyond food and flowers as a part of events with our Market Streets program.

What you need to know

Key Permit Details

Updated detailed permit requirements will be available on our permit webpages prior to the conclusion of the temporary Safe Start Program.

Our proposal removes limitations in code and provides for more discretion in our review process so we can consider applications in their context and allow vending where it will benefit the community. Specifically, we plan to:

• Remove restrictions that prohibit vending within 50’ of a brick-and-mortar business selling food or flowers.
• Remove limit of two vendors per block face, although we will continue to review for adequate curbspace loading and other site-specific factors before issuing permits.
• Remove restrictions on vending that prohibit applications in Neighborhood Residential zones and within 1,000 feet of high schools, although we will review applications and may limit vending based on site context and based on feedback from nearby schools.

Application Timeline and Requirements

In addition to issuing temporary Safe Start Vending Permits, we extended previously-issued and active one-year vending permits to the Safe Start Program end date of January 31, 2023. We will provide more details on the application submittal timeframe in the upcoming months. Vendors wishing to renew their extended pre-COVID permits can expect to apply in early Fall 2022. Vendors seeking new sites or new days or times at established sites, can expect to apply in late Fall or early Winter of 2022.

Public Comment Period

Public Notice followed by a 2-week public comment period is required for new vending permits. Notice will not be required in subsequent years for unchanged permits, and notice will not be required for temporary permits, including our new 4-month site trial permit.

Program Costs and Permit Fees

Fees for an approved vending unit are delineated by permit type below. While the issuance fees shown below are significantly higher than 2020, this is because they now include review fees that were previously charged separately.

One-year site-specific vending (first year for vendor at site)

• Issuance fee (one-time fee for first year for vendor at site)
  • $950
  • Hourly-rate review fees for secondary review by SDOT and other departmental subject matter experts may be charged when required (Current 2022 hourly rate is $305)
• Occupation fee (charged at issuance first year at site, no changes proposed from current 2022 rates)
  • $104 for curbspace in unpaid parking per 4-hour slot/per day of week/per year
  • $478 for curbspace in paid parking per 4-hour slot/per day of week/per year
  • $0.70 - $1.40 per square foot for a sidewalk, plaza, or stadium district site per year

One-year site-specific vending “Renewal” (subsequent years for vendor at site)

• • $553 (charged in lieu of issuance fee for returning vendors)
• Occupation fee (same as first year)
  • $104 for curbspace in unpaid parking per 4-hour slot/per day of week/per year
  • $478 for curbspace in paid parking per 4-hour slot/per day of week/per year
  • $0.70 - $1.40 per square foot for a sidewalk, plaza, or stadium district site per year

Temporary site-trial vending (4-month trial for new vendor-identified sites)

• Issuance fee
  • $200
  • No occupation fees

Temporary event-based vending (daily)

• Issuance fee
  • $75 (for up to 4 separate days on one permit)
  • Note: there is a waiver option for charitable events where food is given away free.

Route Vending

• Issuance Fee
  • $275

We are currently accepting feedback on the draft of our proposed Director's Rule which you can find on our Director's Rules and Ordinances page. If you would like to provide feedback please email us at publicspace@seattle.gov by Monday, August 15, 2022.