April–October Pilot Outreach Program Follows Adoption of New Ordinance
Santa Barbara County will launch a focused sidewalk food vending enforcement effort from April through October 2026 following the Board of Supervisors’ adoption of a Sidewalk Vending Ordinance and approval of a six-month Pilot Outreach Program.
The outreach program responds to a measurable increase in unlawful roadside and sidewalk food vending following passage of State laws, including SB 946 (2018) and SB 972 (2022), which limited local enforcement authority and expanded sidewalk vending activity.
While intended to promote entrepreneurship, these laws reduced local regulatory tools and contributed to growing public health and safety challenges.
Documented Public Health and Safety Risks
Since May 2023, County Environmental Health Services (EHS) has issued 223 Notices of Violation to vendors operating without required health permits. Inspections have identified serious hazards, including:
- Food stored or transported without refrigeration
- Improper cooking and holding temperatures
- No handwashing facilities
- Cross-contamination and unsanitary food handling
- Cockroach and pest infestations
- Open-flame cooking in high fire hazard areas
- Roadside vending along Highways 154 and 246 creating traffic hazards
- Illegal dumping of grease and food waste
In 2025 alone, EHS staff logged more than 400 hours of overtime conducting after-hours and weekend inspections. Between September 2025 and January 2026, nine compliance operations resulted in 14 Notices of Violation and the voluntary disposal of approximately 575 pounds of contaminated meat…