TUSTIN : Pushcarts Restricted to Certain Areas

Pushcart operators are subject to tighter restrictions under an ordinance unanimously approved by the City Council that limits where they may operate.

The council, following the lead of other Orange County cities, adopted an emergency ordinance that restricts pushcart operators to conducting business only in commercial centers larger than 30,000 square feet. The measure, which took effect immediately, will be in effect for 45 days, or until the council decides on permanent regulatory measures.

“Their uncontrolled existence causes a variety of disturbances,” said senior planner Dana Ogden. He said residents have complained that pushcart vendors leave trash behind, cause traffic disturbances and take business away from stationary businesses.

Before the urgency ordinance, Tustin required only that pushcart operators meet state and county standards for operation and that they apply for a $25 business license from the city. Additionally, pushcart operators were required to pay $10 in business tax fees for each day of operation.

There are no pushcart vendors licensed in Tustin, although many are visible on city streets.

The council moved quickly to put some kind of regulatory measure in place out of fear that the city would be inundated with pushcart operators, after several Orange County cities restricted their operations or outlawed them, officials said.

Santa Ana recently limited the number of pushcart operators who can operate within its city limits from 700 to 200. Anaheim, Garden Grove, and Orange have outlawed the vendors.

Officials are not sure how many pushcart owners are operating in Tustin.

Councilman Jim Potts said he supported the urgency ordinance because “there are so many pushcarts nowadays, they are competing with businesses that have overhead costs.”

The council could decide to take further restrictive action on pushcarts in the future. Options include limiting them to specific areas, allowing the vendors only at special events or holiday celebrations, or prohibiting them entirely.