Watsonville police educating street vendors about city regulations

Watsonville police say they will be conducting compliance checks and educating street vendors about city regulations and permits after receiving numerous complaints.

Police say residents have shared concerns about street vendors operating illegally, and officers say they have come to realize that many of them are not aware of requirements.

“We’re not trying to shut down vendors,” said Officer Elizabeth Sousa. “We know this is their livelihood. We’re just wanting them to obtain the permits so that they know the rules and regulations.”

Street vendors are required to have a Santa Cruz County Health Department permit, a permit from the Watsonville Police Department and a business license from the city of Watsonville.

It takes about a month to get a permit from the police department, and to get it the vendor must already have a permit from the health department and a form of identification. During the process, police conduct background checks and take fingerprints.

If you have any permitting questions, Watsonville police suggest calling their permit number at 831-768-3386.