Last spring the DC Council passed legislation that decriminalized street vending and reformed vending laws. This historic bill, the Street Vendor Advancement Act of 2023, became law October 1, 2023. One of the most impactful pieces of the legislation is the creation of the microenterprise home kitchen permit, thereby removing some of the steepest barriers in the food code for DC street vendors.

The new microenterprise home kitchen permit is the first permit in DC history that will allow small business owners, including street vendors, to start and operate a food business from their home kitchen. Street vendors are now also able to sell any type of cooked food and pre-cut fruit and vegetables. Previously, vendors had been functionally restricted to selling only hot dogs & half smokes. This new permit is a huge step forward for poor and working class Black and Brown food entrepreneurs in the District.

The law mandated the Department of Health (DOH) release a permit process by Nov 15, 2023, which they did not do. Instead, they began threatening to fine vendors! Over five months later, DOH has finally released proposed rules for the permit and unfortunately they continue the unfortunate history of street vendors being treated differently than other food businesses across the city.

Take one minute to send an email to DOH and the DC Council Committee on Health to tell them how they can improve the rules.