The L.A. City Council on Wednesday unanimously voted to approve a motion to establish a “Special vending zone” for Hollywood Boulevard, the Hollywood Bowl, and the surrounding areas.

Council members voted 12-0 to request the city attorney to prepare and present an ordinance in 60 days amending the city’s street vending law to comply with state regulations and instruct the city attorney, as well as other government offices to work with the offices of the 4th and 13th council districts, street vendors, street vending advocates and community stakeholders to establish the pilot program.

“For years, a No-Street-Vending Zone on Hollywood Boulevard has targeted immigrant entrepreneurs who are just trying to provide for their families,” said Hugo Soto-Martinez, Councilmember for the 13th District, which includes parts of Hollywood. “Now, street vendors, local businesses and community organizations will take the next 18-24 months to collaborate with the city on a first-of-its-kind ‘special vending zone’ on Hollywood Blvd, which will inform a citywide framework for improving our street vending policies.”

Over the last 10 years, lawmakers across California have worked to create a legal framework for street vending, which previously had been criminalized or conducted in a legal gray area.

Los Angeles then established a permitting process, as well as a ban on vending in certain areas — including the area around the Walk of Fame and Hollywood and Highland.

The Sidewalk Vending Ordinance also excludes vendors from nine areas representing some of L.A.’s most popular pedestrian areas, such as LA Live downtown and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In December 2022, Community Power Collective, Inclusive Action for the City, East L.A. Community Corporation, and two sidewalk vendors filed a lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles challenging its creation of “no-vending zones,” which prohibit sidewalk vending in many of L.A.’s most popular neighborhoods and tourist destinations.

On October 24, a joint statement from the three groups stated, “We appreciate the support of the council members authorizing this motion, as well as express acknowledgment that the city must bring its ordinance into legal compliance.”

The statement also said the motion failed to address the harm done to street vendors over the last several years. It continued, “But this motion does not actually propose to eliminate the unlawful `No Vending Zones,’ and it risks repeating the process that resulted in the illegal restrictions in the first place. The motion does not immediately end the city’s unjust exclusion of vendors from entire neighborhoods, nor does it address the deep financial, emotional, and psychological harms experienced by vendors from years of draconian enforcement of these unlawful and exclusionary policies.”

The statement further added, “We continue to welcome a conversation with the city that centers the voices and experiences of vendors, but we are not deterred from pursuing our strong legal claims and are confident that we will prevail in court if necessary.”

The Civil Rights, Equity, Immigration, Aging and Disability Committee had previously passed the motion on November 3.