Houston Code of Ordinances § 40-261 Scope of article; definitions.
Sec. 40-261. - Scope of article; definitions.
(a) This article shall control and govern certain sales of merchandise within a portion of the downtown area that is associated with the theater/entertainment district.
(b) The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, unless the context of their usage clearly indicates another meaning:
Director shall mean the Director of Houston Public Works and shall include the director's designee.
Fee owner shall mean the holder of the fee title or other person having the present right of possession and control of the real property abutting the sidewalks. In those instances where the city is the fee owner, then it shall mean the department director of the city department responsible for maintenance and control of the property. No provision herein shall be construed to require any city department director to grant permission for the use of any city property or to waive the payment of any applicable concession or use fee.
Food shall have the meaning ascribed in section 20-18 of this Code.
Food vendor shall mean a person who sells food from a mobile food unit.
Merchandise vendor shall mean a person engaged in the sale of artwork, souvenirs, or fresh flowers, or any combination thereof.
Mobile food unit or unit shall mean a food service establishment, mounted on wheels, designed to be readily movable, and propelled solely by human power.
Permit shall mean a current, valid permit issued by the director pursuant to the terms of this article to a function as a vendor.
Permittee shall mean the holder of a permit issued by the director under this article and includes the permit holder's agents, employees, and subcontractors.
Sidewalk shall mean that portion of the street right-of-way that is improved for pedestrian use.
Theater/entertainment district shall mean the area including to the mid-point of and bounded by Preston Street on the north, Dallas Street on the south, Milam Street on the east, and Interstate Highway 45 on the west.
Vendor shall mean a person engaged in the sale of food or nonfood merchandise on the sidewalk.
(Ord. No. 91-1168, § 4, 8-14-91; Ord. No. 04-1015, § 30, 9-27-04; Ord. No. 05-91, § 1, 1-25-05; Ord. No. 2018-11, § 28, 1-10-2018; Ord. No. 2023-238, § 4, 4-12-2023)