Chapter 719 of the Code of Ordinances governs Vendors and Peddlers in the City of Pittsburgh. The Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections licenses vendors operating in the public right-of-way. While Mobile Vendors move at least once every four hours and operate from metered parking spots, Stationary Vendors are licensed for specific locations on the street or sidewalk. Currently, the City of Pittsburgh determines approved locations through nominations to the Street and Sidewalk Vending Site Designation Committee, which sends individual sites to City Council for final approval.

In recent years, cities across the US have reevaluated their approaches regulating vendors operating from trucks, carts, and stands both in the public right-of-way, vacant land, and private property. These cities have increased flexibility for new and established entrepreneurs and created vibrant, active spaces with increased foot traffic. In Pittsburgh, there is a need to clarify criteria for site eligibility, create a system response to changing road and market conditions, and strategically expand vending opportunities.

These changes could include vending in the ROW as well as on privately-owned and city-owned lots. Currently, vending on privately-owned land typically falls under Outdoor Retail Sales & Services (NonAccessory), which is only permitted by right in UC-E and UC-MU districts. For city-owned land, there is currently no standard process for licensing vendors.

We are working across departments and stakeholder groups to identify opportunities to improve our vending program in Pittsburgh. Through focus groups on the needs of vendors, brick-and-mortar businesses, community-based organizations, and regulators, we are researching the policies that will best serve Pittsburgh's context.

These recommendations will be compiled in a report to be posted for public feedback and made available in its final version. If there are any code changes needed to implement these findings, we will work with City Council on legislation. Goals for updating the program include the following:

• Develop a clear, transparent, and efficient process for matching vendors with appropriate locations in the right-of-way
• Expand opportunities for vending in the right-of-way and on public and private property
• Prevent forced movement of vendors, and have a clear process in place for when this is unavoidable
• Promote equity between stationary and mobile vendors
• Become a national leader in supporting vending as a means of economic mobility and incubation opportunity
• Develop a strategic and equitable fee structure that addresses licensing, inspection, maintenance, vacant lot use, trash collection, use of parking, and/or other considerations

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