photo credit: Michelle Marques/KRCB
El Roy's food truck on Sebastopol Road.

The Santa Rosa City Council is taking a closer look at how the city regulates unpermitted street food vendors, approving a study session before considering whether new local rules are needed.

The discussion was prompted by concerns over vendors improperly disposing of cooking grease. But council members said the issue extends farther than grease disposal and involves a deeper conversation of city, county and state regulations.

Council Member Eddie Alvarez, who represents Roseland — home to many of the city's food trucks and street vendors — requested the discussion. While many vendors operate with the required permits, city officials say unpermitted vendors remain a growing concern.

Planning and Economic Development Director Gabe Osburn said changes in state law have limited how much cities can regulate street food vendors.

"State law has provided allowances over the years," Osburn said. "There's been two pieces of legislation that have really went after local jurisdictions for heavily enforcing on mobile food vending."

California legalized sidewalk vending in 2018 allowing local restrictions only for health, safety, and welfare concerns. The state later decriminalized many sidewalk food vending violations, shifting enforcement away from criminal prosecution toward local public health enforcement.

Alvarez said the purpose of the study session is to better understand the city's authority before pursuing any new ordinance. 

"The purpose of bringing this item forward was really to get a better understanding of the limitations and obstacles that code enforcement does face, with the intent of really seizing the opportunity to support the entrepreneurial spirit through compliance and also through tax revenue generation," Alvarez said.

The council unanimously approved the study session, which will bring together city staff, Sonoma County Health and law enforcement to review existing regulations and determine whether new local rules are both necessary and feasible.