How SB 635 Changes Sidewalk Vending Regulation and Enforcement

SB 635 is effective beginning January 1, 2026, and limits local government from data disclosure, including with other government agencies.

Handling permits, inspections, code enforcement, and public safety – your agency does it all, especially when it comes to sidewalk vending. Beginning January 1, 2026, SB 635 changes your processes by imposing limitations on municipal authorities regarding what and how data regarding sidewalk vending can be collected, stored, and shared.

Under SB 635, city and county agencies cannot voluntarily disclose vendor records containing Personal Identification Information (PII) — including home or business addresses, driver’s license numbers, or birthdates — without a subpoena or judicial warrant, including to other government entities.

Agencies are prohibited from inquiring into immigration status, requiring fingerprinting or background checks, or requesting birthplace information to obtain vending permits or business licenses for sidewalk vending. If an agency stored such data prior to January 1, 2026, this law requires those records to be destroyed by March 1, 2026, unless retention is mandated by other laws.

Additionally, SB 635 broadens the data-protection regime by shielding vendor information from disclosure under the California Public Records Act. Local enforcement agencies and contractors are also now banned from using budget money, personnel, or resources to investigate immigration status or provide information to federal immigration agencies — separating city resources from federal enforcement efforts.

SB 635 does not otherwise limit the local agency’s existing power to regulate time, place, or manner of street vending so long as such rules remain tied to health, safety, or welfare risks.

This new law is an example of code enforcement being caught up in the middle of the friction between State and Federal policies concerning immigration.

Civica Law has years of expertise in all aspects of sidewalk vending regulation. If your agency needs assistance, contact one of our code enforcement attorneys.

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