San Diego’s Struggles with Illegal Street Vendors Continue

San Diego is facing escalating issues with illegal street vendors, particularly in bustling areas like Balboa Park and the Gaslamp Quarter. It feels as if there’s no clear solution in sight.

Local business leaders are expressing their concerns after a January 2026 ruling from the California Court of Appeals mandated that city officials cease all enforcement actions against street vendors. The frustration is palpable.

“This is a disaster,” noted Denny Knox, who heads the Ocean Beach Main Street Association, during a conversation with the San Diego Union-Tribune.

With rising numbers of street vendors exploiting the legal loopholes, many are opting not to secure necessary permits. This has complicated matters significantly.

Michael Trimble, executive director of the Gaslamp Quarter Association, pointed out the difficulties vendors pose by obstructing sidewalks, which in turn hinders local businesses from functioning smoothly.

“The lack of any measures has prompted an increase in activity. New vendors are setting up tents and selling their goods without appropriate permits, health approvals, or accountability,” Trimble commented.

There’s now a reemergence of organized hot dog sales in the Gaslamp Quarter, which brings along hazards like bonfires, obstructed pathways, and environmental issues from oil dumping.

“This is incredibly unfair to retailers who have been complying with regulations,” commented Ruth Ann Thorne, who owns the Native Star Boutique in the Gaslamp Quarter.

According to the Union-Tribune, SDPD Officer Ashley Nichols stated that police are now restricted in their ability to confiscate vending carts in the Ballpark area.

“Recent court decisions regarding street vending laws have narrowed what police can do,” Nichols added.

The tension between San Diego officials and street vendors began in 2018 when state law began decriminalizing certain aspects of street vending. It shifted through several city officials over the years, ultimately landing in the hands of Mayor Todd Gloria and Councilmember Jennifer Campbell.

In May 2022, the City Council approved a law that would prohibit street vendors in popular areas like Balboa Park and Ocean Beach during summer. Yet, merchants continued voicing complaints about enforcement issues, leading to reforms in 2024.

The reformed law aimed to simplify cart confiscation, yet it limited free speech protections and excluded activities like yoga classes or food sales on the beaches.

A backlash followed, with a June 2025 federal appeal ruling deeming the city’s ban on beach yoga classes unconstitutional, citing First Amendment protections.

Earlier this year, a ruling in the Imhotep Mustakim case found that the City of San Diego’s 2024 Street Vendors Act had contravened state law by creating “overly restrictive” zones and limiting business hours.

Mustakim, a licensed vendor selling snacks near Petco Park since 2009, had sued after his cart was seized under the revised ordinance. While early court decisions were not in his favor, the 4th District Court of Appeals ultimately ruled in his favor, invalidating the 2024 Street Vendors Act.