Subtitle 17 – Street Vendors

In this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

“Department” means the Baltimore City Department of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing.

“Ice cream truck” means a vendor that earns substantially all of its revenue from the sale of ice cream or similar frozen food confections from a vehicle.

“Mobile vending zone” means an area designated in accordance with <cite data-path="|15|§17-5">§ 17-5 {“Mobile vending zones”} of this subtitle</cite> for the use of mobile vendors.

“Motor vehicle” has the meaning stated in <cite data-path="|31">Article 31</cite>, §1-2(c){“Motor vehicle”}.

“Street” means any street, boulevard, road, highway, alley, lane, sidewalk, footway, mall, esplanade, or other way or place that is owned by the City or habitually used by the public.

“Street vendor” means:

“Vendor truck” means any motor vehicle used for the purpose of selling any food product, other merchandise, or service by a mobile vendor.

“Vendor vehicle” means:

Subject to Title 4 {“Administrative Procedure Act – Regulations”} of the <cite data-doc="City of Balt., Md., Ord. 25-013" data-path="|general">City General Provisions Article</cite>, the Department of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing, in consultation with the Department of Transportation may adopt rules and regulations to carry out this subtitle.

In accordance with <cite data-doc="City of Balt., Md., Ord. 25-013" data-path="|general">General Provisions Article</cite> <cite data-doc="City of Balt., Md., Ord. 25-013" data-path="|general|4|3|4-301">§ 4-301</cite>, the Department of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing must publish, for public hearing and comment, notice of all rules and regulations proposed for adoption under this subtitle.

A copy of all rules and regulations under this subtitle must be filed with the Department of Legislative Reference at least 30 days before they take effect.

The mobile vending zones designated under this section may be set aside for the use of mobile vendors at all times or for specified times, dates, and days.

The Department of Transportation in consultation with the Department of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing may temporarily relocate or suspend mobile vending zones at any time due to emergencies or to further public safety, public health interests, or City operations.

Mobile vending zones designated under this section must be marked by clear signs that specify the hours and times during which the zones are reserved for the exclusive use of mobile vendors.

The rules and regulations adopted under this subtitle must:

In its rules and regulations, the Department may:

In designating classes and specifying limitations, the Department, in consultation with the Department of Transportation, must consider:

The Department of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing may impose reasonable limitations and conditions on any license issued under this subtitle, as necessary or proper to carry out the purpose and intent of this subtitle.

An application for a license must be made in the form that the Department of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing requires.

The application must contain:

Except as provided in <cite data-path="|15|§17-20">§ 17-20 {“Temporary Licenses”} of this subtitle</cite>, a license expires on the 1^st anniversary of its effective date.

The Department of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing may issue a temporary license to be used in connection with a charitable, educational, artistic, civic, or other public function or activity.

Application, license, and other fees are as set by the Board of Estimates from time to time.

The fees established by the Board of Estimates may vary based on the license class, vendor type, or location at which a vendor is authorized to operate.

This section does not apply to a person who obtains a country grower’s license under<cite data-path="|15|§17-25">§ 17-25 {“Vendor identification – Country growers”} of this subtitle</cite>.

The Department of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing must issue an identification badge for each license issued.

The identification badge:

While vending, each street vendor must prominently display the badge in the manner specified in the rules and regulations adopted under this subtitle.

If a badge is lost, the Department must issue a replacement badge on payment by the licensee of the applicable fee.

A street vendor who sells fruits, vegetables, or other perishable articles that have been produced or grown by that vendor may apply for a special, country grower’s license under this section.

The application for a country grower’s license must contain, in addition to the information required by <cite data-path="|15|§17-18">§ 17-18 {“Applications”} of this subtitle</cite>:

Every street vendor of food products must provide sufficient trash receptacles for the use of customers.

On leaving any location, the street vendor must remove all trash within a 10-foot radius of the place at which the vendor vehicle stood or was parked.

A mobile vendor may not sell any food product without keeping a detailed logbook noting the vendor’s daily use of its supporting commissary.

The logbook must:

The logbook must be made available for review to any City inspector or enforcement officer upon request.

In a residential area, no street vendor may stand or park his or her vehicle:

An ice cream truck may not stand or park at a given location for more than 15 minutes unless necessary to serve immediate customers.

Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a street vendor may not operate between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m.

Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to a street vendor operating between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m. in accordance with the terms and conditions of a special event permit from the Department of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing that explicitly grants permission to operate during those hours.

any building used as a public or private kindergarten, elementary school, or secondary school; or

any public transit stop serving a kindergarten, elementary school, or secondary school.

Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a street vendor may not sell any food product, other merchandise, or service within 2 blocks of the perimeter of any farmers’ market authorized by the Commissioner of Housing and Community Development when the farmers’ market is in operation.

Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to a street vendor who:

In addition to any other civil or criminal remedy or enforcement procedure, this subtitle may be enforced by issuance of:

The issuance of a citation to enforce this subtitle does not preclude pursuing any other civil or criminal remedy or enforcement action authorized by law.

The Department of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing may suspend or revoke a license if the licensee violates any provision of:

On a street vendor’s 3^rd violation of any provision of Part III of this subtitle within any 1-year period, the Department must revoke that street vendor’s license.

If a license is revoked, the former licensee may not apply for a new license until at least 1 year from the date of revocation.

The Department’s issuance of a denial, suspension, or revocation of a license is effective immediately, and any operations previously allowed by the denied, suspended, or revoked license must cease immediately and may not resume until the Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals issues a written decision reversing the Department’s decision.