City officials approved a pilot program for street vendor regulations in Charlotte’s NoDa neighborhood.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — City officials approved a pilot program Monday that will introduce new regulations for street vendors in Charlotte’s NoDa neighborhood. The plan aims to address concerns about unregulated vendors by requiring permits and clear identification.
“You have a vendor that is not registered, setting up shop directly in front of a store, not paying taxes,” Council member LaWana Mayfield explained during a meeting on June 9. “We can’t track them down if there were a problem.”
- Permits will be required, and the annual permit fee will increase from $165 to $350.
- Violators could face fines up to $500, though most initial fines are expected to be under $100 to keep the program accessible.
- No criminal penalties will be issued — enforcement is civil only.
- Only certain types of goods will be allowed — like art, handmade jewelry, and clothing. No on-site food preparation or alcohol sales will be permitted, although pre-packaged food may be allowed, pending approval from the county’s health department.
The city has identified four potential vendor zones along designated streets in NoDa. Officials say the program could accommodate six to seven vendors at a time, possibly rotating throughout the week to give more entrepreneurs access to space.
What makes this a pilot program, officials say, is its temporary, limited nature — designed to test the rules in one area for six months, gather feedback, and adjust before considering any broader expansion.
City staff are also planning on-street education efforts ahead of the launch, working with code enforcement and neighborhood services to inform existing vendors about the new system.
In addition, vendors who don’t meet the program’s requirements will have access to technical assistance and business counseling to help them adapt or explore other options within the city.
“I’m a proponent of us finding a way to make sure that we control this,” Councilwoman Marjorie Molina said. “I think we have to be measured with the calls to not really cut off that entrepreneurial spirit that gives people the momentum and the dream to dream bigger.”
City officials plan to implement the pilot program in July and say if it proves successful, the model could eventually be rolled out to other parts of Charlotte.
Multiple brick-and-mortar business owners came to the June 9 meeting in support of the regulations.
“It’s congested, and it’s uncomfortable, and it’s becoming unsafe for shoppers,” Jodi Lynn McNeely told WCNC Charlotte.
She rents a studio space off of North Davidson and is a supporter of street vendors. While she does not want to see them banned, she said this is impacting local businesses like hers and the NoDa community.
“Distributing food that it’s not monitored by the Health Department is scary,” McNeely said. “Having shoppers in the street, is scary.”
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