Street Vending/Trading - Rules and Regulations

John Street Cabramatta Streetscape by Jason Nichol Photography

Street vending activity involves the selling of articles either directly or from a stall or standing vehicle or at a footpath restaurant or take–away service facility on public roads and public places.

Examples of street vending activities include:

  • sale of fruits and vegetables from barrows on a footpath
  • sale of newspapers from a stand on a footpath
  • sale of food, drinks, fruits or vegetables from a stall, a standing vehicle or structure (e.g. kiosks) in a pedestrian mall, near a tourist area, sporting venue or the like not being on private land
  • sale of food or articles from a box, stall or table located on a footpath, including stalls operated by charitable organisations
  • sale of any goods from a stall, stand, or standing vehicle located in a kerbside lane or on the side of a carriageway
  • setting up of footway restaurants or take–away facilities for sale or serving of drinks in a pedestrian area
  • sale of flowers from a box on the side of a carriageway
  • sale of food, confectionary or other articles from a standing street or mobile vending vehicle on the side of a carriageway.

Street vending has general community support and may improve the amenity of streets and public places and provide added convenience and economic benefit for the community.

Local Councils have specific operational responsibility for the regulation of street vending activity in NSW. The Local Government Act 1993 requires anyone engaged in street vending activity to obtain prior approval from the local Council and to comply with Council conditions. The Roads Act 1993 requires prior consent for street vending structures and allows Councils to charge rents in built–up areas.

It is an offence under the Local Government Act 1993 to carry out any street vending activity without the prior approval of the Council of the area in which the activity is conducted. The offence is punishable by an on–the–spot penalty.

A person who fails to obtain an approval or who carries out an activity not in accordance with an approval is guilty of an offence under Section 626 and 627 of the Local Government Act 1993.

For more information contact Council during business hours on 02 9725 0222. 

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