[Adopted 9-7-1967 as § 6-12 of the Revised General Ordinances]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
DESIGNATED LOCATIONS
Specific locations designated for sidewalk vending outside of the boundaries of the Trenton Special Improvement District (Central Trenton Incorporated Zone). Such locations shall be identified by number and maintained on file in the office of the City Clerk, and such other locations as may be added hereafter by amendment to this article.
HAWK, PEDDLE OR VEND
Any hawking, peddling or vending of food, beverages, confections, goods, wares, merchandise or commodities of any nature or description on the streets and sidewalks within the Special Improvement District, Central Trenton Incorporated Zone, creating a Special Improvement District within the City and establishing a District Management Corporation pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:56-65 et seq., and Chapter 252, Special Improvement District, of the Code of the City of Trenton [1].
VENDING UNIT
Any pushcart, wagon or any other wheeled vehicle or device which may be moved without assistance of a motor and which is not required to be licensed and registered by the Department of Motor Vehicles, used for the displaying, storing or transporting of articles offered for sale by a vendor.
VENDOR
Any person who sells, peddles or vends any goods, wares or merchandise on the streets and sidewalks, traveling by foot, automotive vehicle or any other type of conveyance. The word "vendor" shall also include "peddler" and "hawker."
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
A. 
No person shall engage in hawking, peddling or vending within the City unless (s)he holds and has in his/her possession a valid license permitting hawking, peddling or vending issued pursuant to and in accordance with provisions of N.J.S.A. 45:24-9 et seq.
B. 
This article shall be in addition to any and all ordinances regulating motorized vending vehicles.
C. 
This article shall not prohibit sales activities conducted by a person holding a license to operate a restaurant from operating a pushcart on a sidewalk immediately adjacent to a licensed premises, provided that all health permits and other regulations established hereby are obtained and complied with.
Any person having a type of license referred to in § 206-18 who desires to hawk, peddle or vend within the City shall first register with the City in the following manner:
A. 
The applicant for registration shall produce a license issued to him/her by a County Clerk pursuant to N.J.S.A. 45:24-10.
B. 
The applicant shall complete and sign a form of appreciation for registration provided by the City, setting forth the following information:
(1) 
Name and address.
(2) 
Description of the applicant.
(3) 
Places of residence of the applicant for the past five years immediately preceding the date of application.
(4) 
A description of the nature of the business proposed.
(5) 
A description of the vending unit to be utilized. If a motor vehicle is to be utilized, the registration number, license plate number and name and address of insurance carrier and insurance policy number and coverage must be listed.
(6) 
Whether or not the applicant has ever had a license to conduct this business sought to be registered and whether or not (s)he ever had a license to conduct such business denied or revoked, and if so, setting forth the details thereof.
(7) 
The date, place and nature of the conviction of the applicant of any crime.
(8) 
Two photographs showing the applicant's face, front and profile, representative of the applicant's appearance at the time of the application for registration, of a minimum size of 1 1/2 inches square, which photographs shall be affixed to the application for registration.
(9) 
Proof of an insurance policy issued by an insurance company licensed to do business in the State of New Jersey protecting the registrant and the City from all claims for damage to property and bodily injury, including death, which may arise from operations under or in connection with the vending, hawking or peddling. Such insurance shall name as an additional insured the City and shall provide that the policy shall not terminate or be canceled prior to the expiration date without 30 days' advance written notice to the City. The amounts of the insurance to be maintained are:
(a) 
Personal injury:
[1] 
Per person: $100,000.
[2] 
Per occurrence: $300,000.
(b) 
Property damage: $50,000.
C. 
Upon satisfactory completion of the registration process and upon payment of the registration fee, there shall be issued to the applicant a registration certificate to conduct the business applied for. Such certificate shall contain the signature of the issuing officer and shall show the name, address and photograph of the applicant, type of business registered, the kind of goods and services to be sold, the date of issue, the length of time the certificate shall be operative and the license number and other identifying description of any vehicle used in the activity licensed. This certificate shall be worn by the vendor in clear view of the public at all times in which the vendor is conducting business on the street or sidewalk in connection with the vending business.
D. 
In the case of food vendors, a certificate of health compliance, issued by the City of Trenton Health and Human Services Department, shall be conspicuously displayed on the vending unit in clear view of the public. No food vending unit shall be permitted on the streets or sidewalks of the City without such a certificate of health compliance.
E. 
Any vending unit on the streets of the City must have a serial number, issued without charge by the towing division manager, affixed to it. Removal and/or destruction or damage of any kind to this plate or decal will be considered alteration for criminal intent, and the registration certificate will be confiscated. In the event the vendor sells such cart or vending unit, the new owner must present to the towing division manager a notarized receipt for sale. At the time, the original owner will be taken off the master list and a new identification number will be given to the new owner. Failure to obtain a serial number or transfer number will result in the vending unit being unauthorized for use on the streets of the City. Substitute carts or vending units used to substitute for street carts or vending units, while such cart is being sanitized, cleaned or otherwise unavailable, shall also need a registered serial number.
F. 
The registration shall be renewable each year on or before January 1, unless such registration has been revoked.
G. 
Only licensed vendors may have an ownership interest in vending units and shall have an ownership interest in only one vending unit, and may operate only that one vending unit and no other. An ownership interest, for the purpose of this subsection, is defined as having the sole proprietorship of such unit or being a partner in partnership or shareholder in a corporation owning such unit.
H. 
Each vending unit shall have painted thereon an identification number, which shall be the unit's registration number.
I. 
Registration shall not be assignable nor transferable.
J. 
Before the permit shall be issued for engaging in the business of peddling, such applicant shall file with the Clerk of the Licensing Bureau an instrument nominating and appointing the City Clerk his/her true and lawful agent, with full power and authority to acknowledge service or notice of process for and on behalf of such applicant in respect to any matters connected with or arising out of the business transacted under such permit and the bond given.
K. 
There shall be an annual registration fee of $250 per vending unit.
L. 
The City shall be notified of any change in business address or residence of the vendor within 30 days, by notice, either in writing or in person.
The business of hawking, peddling or vending shall be subject to the following regulations:
A. 
No vending units shall be permitted to be in use and shall be off the streets and sidewalks of the City from 7:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m., and there shall be no vending of any type during this period.
B. 
All vending units must be on wheels and must be capable of being manually moved by one person.
C. 
No vending unit shall be permitted upon the streets and sidewalks of the City unless in operation and attended by an honorably discharged veteran or exempt fire fighter licensed by the State of New Jersey pursuant to N.J.S.A. 45:24-9. Such vendor will be permitted to leave the vending cart for a period not to exceed 20 minutes. Such period of unattendance cannot occur at intervals closer than two hours.
D. 
There shall be no sale of food or beverage for immediate consumption unless the vendor has made available for public use a waste receptacle attached to the vending unit or motor vehicle.
E. 
No vendor shall leave any location without first picking up, removing or disposing of all trash or refuse which shall be found within a radius of 20 feet from the cart. The vendor shall not sweep into or deposit any accumulation of litter into any gutter, street, drain or storm sewer.
F. 
No vendor shall allow any items relating to the operation of the vending business to be placed anywhere other than in or on the vending unit.
G. 
No vendor shall set up, maintain or permit the use of any table, crate, carton, rack or other device to increase the selling or display capacity of his/her unit or motor vehicle. There shall be no stacking of items to be sold upon any sidewalk or street. All materials and/or merchandise must be located solely on the vending unit.
H. 
No vendor shall solicit or conduct business with persons in motor vehicles.
I. 
No vendor shall sell anything other than such commodities described in his/her registration application.
J. 
No vendor shall call out or use any device which produces noise, or use or operate any bell, loudspeaker, public address system, sound amplifier or similar device to attract the attention of the public.
K. 
No vendor shall allow his/her vending unit, or any other item relating to the operation of the vending business, to be placed against any building or other structure without the consent of the owner of such building or structure.
L. 
No vendor shall hawk, peddle or vend unless (s)he has in his/her possession and displayed prominently and visibly upon his/her shirt or blouse a valid state license issued pursuant to Title 45 of the Revised Statute of New Jersey, and his/her city registration card.
M. 
All vending units must be thoroughly covered with proper material to assure that no portion that is heated is exposed where the public is able to come in contact with it.
N. 
No vendor shall use any conveyance, device or thing whatsoever which, when fully loaded with merchandise, cannot be easily moved and maintained under control by the vendor.
O. 
There shall be no mixing of food and nonfood items for sale.
P. 
Every vending unit shall be located one foot from the sidewalk curb and shall provide a continuous space of five feet for pedestrian passage.
Q. 
Any vendor who is legally blind or totally disabled may be assisted by one veteran or exempt fire-fighter vendor, which veteran or exempt fire fighter must be registered with the City. The blind or disabled vendor must be present at the vending unit at all times. The assisting veteran or exempt fire fighter shall be considered, for the purposes of this section, as having an ownership interest in the vending unit from which (s)he is assisting.
R. 
Vendors must be actively vending, and their vending units, if any, must be in operation at all times. No sleeping or other inactivity of any kind by the vendor shall be permitted.
A. 
There shall only be vending in the following designated locations:
(1) 
North Broad and Perry Streets, north of Perry Street.
(2) 
Outside of main gate of Cadwalader Park.
(3) 
South Broad Street at Route 1 overpass.
(4) 
Old Wharf Area on Route 29.
(5) 
West State and Prospect Streets.
(6) 
Sidewalk adjacent to William Trent House.
B. 
These locations shall be assigned by lottery at the time of the issuance of the registration certificate. The designated location shall be subject to change at the direction of the City Council in the interest of the public safety, health or welfare. The assignment of each location shall be subject to change or rotation at the time of registration renewal as shall be determined by the City Council upon the basis of the experience of the initial six months of implementing this article.
C. 
The City will designate the locations for each vendor. No vendor may occupy the designated location assigned to another vendor, regardless of whether or not the assigned vendor is present.
D. 
No vendor shall have any exclusive right to any location in the public streets, nor shall (s)he be permitted to operate in any congested area where his/her operation might unreasonably impede the public movement.
E. 
The City Clerk shall advise the City Council of the number of applicants for such registrations to allow the City Council to determine whether sufficient areas have been designated for such vending purposes.
No sidewalk vending unit shall exceed four feet in width, seven feet in length and eight feet in height, inclusive of umbrellas or any other items that may be placed on the cart.
A. 
Vendors of food and beverages shall comply with the inspection provisions and standards of the City of Trenton Retail Food Establishment Code.[1] The equipment used in the vending of food and beverages shall be inspected upon application for registration and receive a certificate of inspection upon compliance with all applicable City ordinances and state statutes. [2]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 113, Food Handling, Art. I, Retail Food Establishments.
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
B. 
Each food and beverage vending unit shall be inspected at least once a month.
C. 
In addition to any other health and sanitation requirements, the following regulations must be followed:
(1) 
All vending units shall be stored in an enclosed garage when not in use. The garage shall have an impervious floor and have adequate floor drains to allow for cleaning and washing of the vending unit.
(2) 
The location of the food storage, food preparation and cart storage shall be subject to the applicable provisions of the New Jersey State Sanitary Code, N.J.A.C. 8:21 through 8:24 et seq., and any subsequent amendments thereto.
(3) 
All food product storage and preparation areas shall be enclosed by partition and separated from any cart storage or nonfood preparation related operations. In the event that the mobile cart base is the same as an individual's residence, the commercial food storage and preparation shall be separate from the residential portion of the premises.
(4) 
Mobile food units shall operate from a commissary or other fixed wholesale or retail food establishment, and shall report at least daily to such location for all food supplies and for all cleaning and servicing operations. The commissary, or other fixed wholesale or retail food establishment used as a base of operation for mobile food units or push carts, shall be constructed and operated in compliance with the requirements of the New Jersey State Sanitary Code.
(5) 
A mobile food unit servicing area shall be provided and shall include at least overhead protection for any supplying, cleaning or servicing operation. Within this servicing area, there shall be a location provided for the flushing and drainage of liquid wastes separate from the location provided for water servicing and for loading and unloading of food and related supplies. This servicing area will not be required where only packaged food is placed on the mobile food unit or pushcart or where all mobile food units contain waste retention tanks. The surface of the servicing area shall be constructed of a smooth, nonabsorbent material, such as concrete or machine-laid asphalt, and shall be maintained in good repair, kept clean and be graded to drain.
(6) 
Potable water servicing equipment shall be installed according to law and shall be stored and handled in a way that protects the water and equipment from contamination. The mobile food unit liquid waste retention tank, where used, shall be thoroughly flushed and drained during the servicing operation. All liquid waste shall be discharged to a sanitary sewerage disposal system, in accordance with N.J.A.C. 8:24-6.5.
(7) 
All vending units dispensing hot food shall be equipped with:
(a) 
Twin potable water tanks consisting of a minimum capacity of eight gallons each, heated electrically or otherwise, and tilted toward a capped draincock so that tanks can be completely evacuated of water. All tanks shall be equipped with an access hatch in order to facilitate cleaning and sanitizing internal surfaces of the tanks. Such access hatch shall be approved by the City Health and Human Services Department.
(b) 
A hand wash sink, seamless, with running hot and cold water, soap and single service towels.
(c) 
A suitable waste tank, with an adequate method of gauging the contents, and having a capacity at least equal to the capacity of the water supply tank, tilted toward a draincock. All waste shall be emptied and flushed in a sanitary manner into a sanitary sewer as often as necessary in order to maintain sanitary conditions.
(d) 
A refrigerated box capable of maintaining a temperature of 45º F. or below, and equipped with an indicating thermometer, for various ingredients carried, with metal rack or platforms provided to store ingredients.
(e) 
A refuse container with cover attached to the cart for deposit of paper and other solid wastes by customers and operators. Such container must be readily cleanable and be kept clean.
(8) 
In addition to the above:
(a) 
Every vending unit shall be constructed of such acceptable material as to enable it to be readily cleaned and shall be kept clean, and food will not be contaminated during cooking, serving, display or storage.
(b) 
Food-contact surfaces of vending units shall be provided with a close-fitting lid to protect food products from dust, dirt and splash.
(c) 
Vending units shall be disassembled and cleaned daily, or more often as deemed necessary by the health authority. All food-contact surfaces of vending units shall be washed, rinsed and sanitized in accordance with procedures of the applicable chapter of the New Jersey State Sanitary Code. All such cleaning is prohibited in public places.
(d) 
The cart cleaning process at the vending base of operation shall be segregated from food product storage, preparation, cleaning or refuse areas.
(e) 
Waste water from any discharge shall be disposed of in a sanitary manner and shall not create a nuisance.
(f) 
All perishable and/or potentially hazardous foods shall be maintained at temperatures below 45º F. or above 140º F. until removed from storage for preparation and use. All food items shall be protected from contamination at all times.
(g) 
All vehicles or other means of transport shall have adequate facilities and capacity to dispose of any trash or food waste associated with the transport of food or breaking down of food products. Such vehicles shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary manner and subject to inspection by the City Health and Human Services Department.
All vending units, whether in motor vehicles or not, in or from which food is prepared or sold, shall comply with the following requirements:
A. 
All equipment installed in any part of the vending unit shall be secured in order to prevent movement during transit and prevent detachment in the event of a collision or overturn.
B. 
All utensils shall be stored in order to prevent their being hurled about in the event of a sudden stop, collision or overturn. A safety knife holder shall be provided to avoid loose storage of knives.
C. 
Compressors, auxiliary engines, generators, batteries, battery chargers, gas-fueled water heaters and similar equipment shall be installed so as to be accessible only from the outside of the units.
Where it is determined that a violation of this article exists, there shall be an ordinance summons given to the violator involved, or affixed to his/her vending unit if (s)he is not present, at which time all vending must cease. If the violation does not cease within a reasonable time thereafter, the vending unit shall be subject to removal by towing. If the vendor feels aggrieved by the towing of the unit, (s)he shall have an immediate hearing before a superior police officer in order to determine whether or not there existed probable cause concerning the violation and the towing. If probable cause does not exist, the vending unit towed shall be released.
A. 
Registrations issued under the provisions of this article may be suspended or revoked by the City Clerk, upon notice and hearing, for any of the following reasons:
(1) 
Fraud or material misrepresentation contained in the application.
(2) 
Fraud or material misrepresentation made in the course of carrying on the business of vending.
(3) 
Conducting the business in such a manner as to create a public nuisance or constitute a danger to the public health, safety, welfare or morals.
(4) 
Violation of any City ordinance or law.
(5) 
Any activity injurious to the health, safety or welfare of the public.
B. 
Appeals of a revocation decision shall be made to the Superior Court of New Jersey.
The Mayor is hereby empowered to promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary to carry out the purposes and the intent of this article.
A. 
Any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction in Municipal Court, be punished as provided in Chapter 1, Article III, General Penalty.
B. 
Vendors who do not comply with the lawful direction of the City's law enforcement officers within a reasonable length of time shall have their vending units confiscated.
C. 
Every day that a violation of this article exists shall constitute a separate offense.