IJ Issue
Vending
IJ’s National Street Vending Initiative fights for the rights of all street vendors to earn an honest living.
National Street Vending Initiative
The Institute for Justice’s Fight to Legalize Street Vending
Through its National Street Vending Initiative, the Institute for Justice challenges anti-competitive laws that harm street vendors and food trucks by unconstitutionally restricting their right to earn an honest living. The initiative helps vendors defeat such restrictions by bringing lawsuits in state and federal courts, equipping vendors to fight these restrictions through activism, and educating the public about the social and economic importance of street vending. IJ has filed over a dozen street vending or food truck cases around the nation, winning the majority of them.
The initiative’s latest case was filed in December, 2022, and challenges Jacksonville, North Carolina’s anticompetitive restrictions that violate the North Carolina Constitution’s protections for property rights, economic liberty, and free speech.
STREET VENDORS: Does your city have laws that seem designed to keep you from competing with other businesses? Do these laws make it difficult—or even impossible—for you to run your business? If so, we can help. Please e-mail us at activism@ij.org.
Economic Liberty Issues
Braiding
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Cosmetology
Cosmetology is the study of beauty practices and includes styling hair, applying makeup, and providing nail care and skin care.
Food Freedom
All individuals have the right to produce, advertise, sell, procure, and consume the foods of their choice. IJ ensures they can use these rights to provide for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Fresh Start
A job is one of the best ways for people with criminal records not to re-offend. But strict occupational licensing requirements make it harder for people with…
Interior Design
Besides unconstitutionally censoring truthful commercial speech, “titling laws” serve as precursors to full-blown occupational licensure, which is the ultimate goal of a small faction within the interior…
Occupational Licensing
Occupational licenses, which are essentially permission slips from the government, routinely stand in the way of honest enterprise. Without these licenses, workers can face stiff fines or even risk jail time.
Transportation
Consumers and entrepreneurs, not government officials, should decide what transportation options are available.
Vending
IJ’s National Street Vending Initiative fights for the rights of all street vendors to earn an honest living.
Vending Cases
Economic Liberty | First Amendment | Private Property | Vending
Small Business Owners Sue to Strike Down Jacksonville Regulations Effectively Banning Food Trucks From City
Jacksonville, North Carolina effectively bans food trucks from operating in 96 percent of the city. That's why a group of small business owners has teamed up with the Institute for Justice to file a lawsuit challenging Jacksonville's regulations.
Economic Liberty | Vending
Food-Truck Owners Battle City’s Anti-Competitive Ordinance
Tarpon Springs, Florida bans food trucks from operating in the downtown area, unless the owner also has a brick-and-mortar restaurant. The owners of one food truck are working with IJ to fight for their right to earn an honest living.
Economic Liberty | Vending
Texas Food Trucks Sue for Right to Compete on South Padre Island
South Padre Island caps the number of food trucks in town at 12 and requires that all food trucks have a restaurant owner’s sign off on their permit applications. The Texas Constitution prevents the government from picking winners and losers, which is why food truck operators have partnered with IJ to challenge the regulation.
Economic Liberty | Vending
Food Truck Owners Challenge One of the Most Anti-Competitive Vending Restrictions in the Country
Fort Pierce, Florida used to have an incredibly restrictive rule that banned food trucks from operating within 500 feet of a brick-and-mortar restaurant. After two food truck operators partnered with IJ, a court ruled the ordinance was unconstitutional and the city repealed it.
Economic Liberty | Vending
No Meals on Wheels—Wisconsin Town Stops Family Business From Operating State-Licensed Food Truck on Its Own Private Property
The town of Gibraltar and Door County, Wisconsin once had full-blown ban on food vending trucks, that is until IJ stepped in. After hearing IJ’s case on behalf of food truck operators, a Door County Circuit Court judge ruled the ban violated the Wisconsin Constitution.
Vending News
After Miami Gardens Drops Illegal Ban on Food Trucks, Law Firm Urges Aventura to Do the Same
After beating a food truck ban in Miami Gardens, the Institute for Justice is urging Aventura to end a similar restriction.
Indiana Town’s Food Truck Restrictions Are Bad Policy and Unconstitutional, Law Firm Warns
Today, the Institute for Justice (IJ) sent a letter to local officials in Nashville, Indiana, urging the town to reconsider proposed restrictions on food trucks.
Public Interest Law Firm Asks Miami Gardens to Stop Defying State Law and Allow Food Trucks to Operate
Today, the Institute for Justice (IJ) sent a letter to city officials in Miami Gardens, Florida, asking them to stop enforcing local ordinances against food trucks, in defiance of state…
Public Interest Law Firm Demands Georgia City Repeal Ordinance Banning Competition from Food Trucks
ARLINGTON, Va.—Today, the Institute for Justice (IJ) sent a letter to city officials in Statesboro, Georgia, warning them to revise their ordinance which bans food trucks from operating within 200…
Gov. Lombardo Vetoes Street Vendor Bill; Proponents Vow to Keep Fighting
CARSON CITY, Nev.—On Tuesday evening, Gov. Joe Lombardo vetoed a bill that would have loosened restrictions on street food vendors, which have severely…
Public Interest Law Firm Calls on Ohio City to Cease Efforts to Unconstitutionally Ban Food Trucks on Private Property
ARLINGTON, Va.—Today, the Institute for Justice (IJ) sent a letter to city officials in Norwood, Ohio, calling on them to cease efforts to ban private property owners…
Vending Legislation
Economic Liberty | Vending
Mobile Food Vendor Freedom Act
Food trucks expand opportunity and enliven communities. For first-time entrepreneurs, food trucks offer an affordable path into business ownership. For established restaurants, they create a flexible way to grow a brand and reach new customers. For consumers, they bring convenience, variety, and culture directly…
Economic Liberty | Vending
Mobile Food Vendor Freedom Municipal Ordinance
Starting a food truck has helped many entrepreneurs realize the American Dream. These mobile kitchens create jobs and provide an economic boost to the communities they serve. Unfortunately, many counties and cities make it nearly impossible for food trucks…
Vending Research
Economic Liberty | Vending
Does the Growth of Food Trucks Threaten the Sustainability of Restaurants? Evidence From a Nationwide Analysis of U.S. Businesses
This article examines whether growth in the food truck sector in the United States harms restaurants, as restaurateurs and their allies often claim. Using 12 years of nationwide data in a dynamic panel data analysis,…
Economic Liberty | Vending