What was initially advertised as a win for sidewalk vendors in Nevada, by omitting certain requirements to operate, such as background checks, fingerprinting or assigned locations, is getting scrutiny locally due to limitations imposed at the state level by the casino lobby.
This all follows Senate Bill 92 being signed into law during the most recent legislative session, establishing rules and regulations for sidewalk vendors in the Silver State.
As a necessary follow up, a Reno ordinance concerning their rules to operate locally was introduced earlier this month, with a second reading scheduled for Dec. 6.
Sidewalk vendors need to get a health permit from Northern Nevada Public Health, a business license and respect delineated zones to operate, which is the sticking point.
Initially, sponsors of the bill wanted to allow street vending in all areas, but there was pushback from the Las Vegas casino lobby, so the bill prevents selling within 1,500 feet of resort hotels, event facilities and convention centers, which in Reno, essentially means the entire downtown area.
Make the Road Nevada which has been pushing for change has still expressed satisfaction that street vendors, often known as eloteros in Latino communities, are being legitimized. Council members Naomi Duerr and Jenny Brekhus are among those expressing concerns though on how this applies to Reno specifically and its many downtown special events as the state law appears to handcuff those local business practices.