SAN DIEGO — San Diego's street and sidewalk vendors are now allowed to return to city streets and sidewalks following the end to the summer moratorium.
Last year, the city of San Diego outlawed street vendors from selling their wares and food items during the summer months, from Memorial Day through Labor Day in Balboa Park, as well as parks adjacent to the coastline in Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach and La Jolla.
And while the city has now opened those areas, vendors are still required to obtain a permit as well as observe time restrictions on when they can sell their goods.
City council and the Mayor passed the ordinance in May of 2022 and went into effect in late June to address complaints from some residents and business owners about the vendors blocking sidewalks and walkways in Mission Beach and Balboa Park.
However, despite the summer moratorium, some vendors tell CBS8 they were still able to set up shop thanks to a loophole, which read in part:
"The following persons, entities or activities are exempt from the requirements of this Division: (I) Any vendor or individual engaged solely in artistic performances, free speech, political or petitioning activities, or engaged solely in vending of items constituting expressive activity protected by the First Amendment."
Brett Miller, a jewelry maker in Ocean Beach, says that loophole kept him working all summer long.
Still, he says it's also added created confusion for him and other vendors.
"We're told conflicting information. We're told one thing by some people. We're told another thing by people on a different day," said Miller.
CBS8 reached out to the City for clarification. We are still waiting to hear back.
See the city map below to see the locations of all city areas where vendors are prohibiting from setting up shop.
