New Rules Ban Street Vendors in Nine Locations

The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has issued new regulations for mobile vendor activity, identifying nine locations where street and mobile trading is prohibited across the Kingdom. The rules aim to protect road safety and public facilities while organizing the growing sector.

Mobile vendor activity is banned at road intersections, central road medians, parking spaces for persons with disabilities, entrances and exits of main and secondary roads, areas adjacent to traffic lights, public parking areas, bicycle lanes, and roads with high traffic density. Sites designated for police, traffic, civil defense, and ambulance services are also off-limits.

Mobile food trucks and carts face additional restrictions. They may not operate inside residential neighborhoods, in front of schools, houses, and mosques, or near garbage containers, sewage sites, waste dumps, or other sources of bad odors or hazardous emissions such as gas and smoke. They must also stay clear of gas stations and emergency exits, keeping a distance of roughly ten meters.

Operations are banned after 12:00 a.m. (midnight) unless a 24-hour work permit is obtained; operating past midnight without such a permit is a violation. For carts and food trucks, obtaining a municipal license and a location permit before starting operation is mandatory, and units must install surveillance cameras as part of the safety and monitoring framework. Carts must also display the owner's name and commercial activity in line with municipal signage standards.

Reporting and non-food carts

Violations can be reported through municipal communications at the unified number 940 or via the relevant municipal digital application. The Ministry has also issued updated rules for non-food mobile carts, with the permit available as an electronic municipal service where applicants enter basic permit and cart data and submit the request to the municipality for review and approval.

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