Vendor Permits

A Vendor is any person who offers goods or services for sale on the streets or from a vehicle or a stand open to the street, whose business is conducted from a vehicle, cart, stand or temporary structure. A valid vending license must be obtained from the city clerk in order for any person to engage in business as a Vendor within the City. A separate license is required for each Vendor stand, motorized vending unit or portable vending cart.

A Canvasser is any person traveling by foot, wagon, motor vehicle or other conveyance, from place to place, house to house, business to business, or street to street, on behalf of a religious, political, educational or non-profit charitable organization selling goods or services for that organization for its fund-raising, seeking donations, distributing information or seeking signatures on petitions. A Canvasser is not considered a Vendor for permitting purposes; however, a canvasser is required to register with the St. Joseph City Clerk's Office.

Types of Vendors

Day Vendor - Operator of a portable vending cart or motorized vending unit, selling goods from a single approved site. The portable vending cart or motorized vending unit must be removed every evening after vending hours have ended.

Moving Day Vendor - Operator of a portable vending cart or motorized vending unit selling goods while moving along an approved vending location.

Special Event Vendor - Operator of a stationary stand or portable vending cart licensed for a limited, specific period in association with a special event. The stationary stand or portable vending cart may be left on site for the duration of the event, and may be located on private property. The Special Event Vendor shall be licensed by the special event organization which has been approved by the city commission to organize a special event or by the City of St. Joseph if the special event organization has waived vending rights.

Peddler - Every person traveling by foot, wagon, bicycle or other similar conveyance from place to place, house to house, business to business, or street to street, selling or offering for sale any goods or services, whether for current or future delivery.

Stationary Vendor - Operator of a stationary stand, which shall remain on a single approved site for the entire period of the Vendor license, and if preparation and sale of unpackaged food products is offered, must have water, sanitary sewer and electric and/or gas utilities.

Exceptions

A person conducting a garage sale as defined in Chapter 24 of the Code in a zoning district in which a garage sale is permitted is not considered a Vendor for the purposes of permitting.

Persons making delivery of goods previously ordered by any business or personal customer; a person or business whose activity in major part is driving a regular route to the location of existing customers who have arranged for return visits; all Vendors that fall under an approved Special Event designation; persons working on behalf of a religious, political or non-profit charitable organization selling goods or services for that organization for its fund-raising, seeking donations, distributing information or seeking signatures on petitions; canvassers are not considered vendors for the purpose of permitting.

More information and forms

• Vending Ordinance
• Application – Vendor License
• Application – Canvasser Registration
• Fee Schedule
• Vending Policies, Procedures and Checklist