If you live in Fresno, you have likely heard of Tower District and its lively atmosphere during the day and night. During the day people go to have lunch or grab a coffee, while at night it is filled with energetic music and dancing. Throughout the whole day, you’ll see people grabbing food from vendors on the sidewalk selling bacon wrapped hotdogs, tacos, burritos, etc. It is a well-known area in Fresno that many people love to visit to create a nice memory.
Unfortunately, Councilmembers Miguel Arias and Annalisa Perea sponsored an ordinance amendment that sought to prohibit sidewalk vending in Tower District, forbidding vendors from selling between 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, with a first violation serving as a warning and the next violations amounting to $100 to $500 fines. If vendors do not have permits, then the fines are increased.
On Nov. 20, 2025, the proposal was approved, in a meeting during which the amendment was changed from banning sidewalk vendors to increasing fines for vendors operating illegally to address public health and safety concerns. This change went into effect on Dec. 1, 2025…