RESTRICTIONS ON STREET SALES.

Austin City Code tit. 14, ch. 14-9, art. 2

in effect

Austin City Code § 14-9-11 RESTRICTION ON SALES AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS IN CITY RIGHT-OF-WAY.

§ 14-9-11 - RESTRICTION ON SALES AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS IN CITY RIGHT-OF-WAY. (A) Except as provided in Subsection (B), a person may not display, sell, offer for sale, exchange, or take orders for the sale or exchange of merchandise, or dockless transportation goods services, rentals or lease within City right-of-way adjacent to schools, hospitals, convention centers, City owned or controlled buildings, streets, highways, bridges, alleys, sidewalks, and any places deemed detrimental to safety and mobility as determined by the director of the Austin Transportation Department (director), unless the person has obtained a license from the City. (B) This section does not apply to: (1) the sale or display of a newspaper, pamphlet, or periodical on a sidewalk if the newspaper, pamphlet, or periodicals and any display or dispenser is within an area extending not more than three feet from the curbline or the lot line; or (2) the distribution of leaflets, literature, or other information in a manner that does not block the safe or free passage of another person. (3) solicitation as defined by Subsection (B)(8) of City Code Section 9-4-13 (Exception to Prohibition Against Obstruction for Sale, Rental, or Lease of Merchandise or Services) in a matter that does not violate Subsection (C) of City Code Section 9-4-13 (Exception to Prohibition Against Obstruction for Sale, Rental, or Lease of Merchandise or Services). Source: Ord. No. 20180426-027, Pt. 3, 4-26-18.

Austin City Code § 14-9-12 OBSTRUCTION FOR SALE, RENTAL, OR LEASE OF MERCHANDISE OR SERVICES PROHIBITED.

§ 14-9-12 - OBSTRUCTION FOR SALE, RENTAL, OR LEASE OF MERCHANDISE OR SERVICES PROHIBITED. (A) This section does not apply to a person licensed under Section 14-9-21 (Street Vendor License Authorized), or to a use authorized by Section 14-9-13 (Exceptions to Prohibition Against Obstruction for Sale, Rental or Lease of Merchandise or Services). (B) On a street, highway, bridge, alley, sidewalk, or right-of-way, a person may not: (1) place, park, or maintain, or cause to be placed, parked, or maintained a structure or display used to sell, offer for sale, lease, rental, barter, trade, store, or take an order for the sale, lease, rental, or exchange of merchandise, or dockless transportation goods, or services; or (2) sell, offer for sale, rent, lease, exchange, or take orders for the sale or exchange of merchandise, or dockless transportation goods or services. (C) A person may not park a motor vehicle on a street to use as a structure or display to sell merchandise to a pedestrian or occupant of another vehicle. Source: Ord. No. 20180426-027, Pt. 4, 4-26-18.

Austin City Code § 14-9-13 EXCEPTIONS TO PROHIBITION AGAINST OBSTRUCTION FOR SALE, RENTAL, OR LEASE OF MERCHANDISE OR SERVICES.

§ 14-9-13 - EXCEPTIONS TO PROHIBITION AGAINST OBSTRUCTION FOR SALE, RENTAL, OR LEASE OF MERCHANDISE OR SERVICES. Section 14-9-12 (Obstruction for Sale, Rental, or Lease of Merchandise or Services Prohibited) does not apply to: (1) a display for a newspaper, pamphlet, or periodical, on a sidewalk if the display is not more than three feet from the curbline or lot line, in compliance with Article 4 (Restrictions on Newsracks and Direct Sales in a Public Rights-of-Way); (2) a public market established under Chapter 14-2 (Public Markets); (3) the delivery of previously ordered or purchased merchandise; (4) the use of a street, alley, or sidewalk in connection with residence-to-residence or business-to-business sales or solicitations; (5) fresh cut flower sales, offers for sale, exchanges, or purchase orders; (6) a sidewalk café permitted or licensed under Chapter 14-4 (Sidewalk Cafés and Sidewalk Storefonts); (7) a sidewalk sign that complies with Section 25-10-153 (Sidewalk Signs) or a retail item for display or sale, provided that: (i) the sign or retail item is within the frontage of the business displaying the sign or retail item; and (ii) an unobstructed pedestrian pathway exists sufficient to meet applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); (8) a street vendor operating a non-stationary vending cart from which only prepackaged food or drinks are sold to the general public, provided the street vendor is a person affiliated with or operating as an agent of a non-profit corporation that assists the chronically homeless; and (9) a children's beverage stand as defined by City Code Section 10-3-1 (Definitions). Source: Ord. No. 20180426-027, Pt. 5, 4-26-18; Ord. No. 20190919-038, Pt. 9, 9-30-19; Ord. No. 20220217-009, Pt. 7, 2-28-22.

Austin City Code § 14-9-14 IMPOUNDMENT OF PROPERTY FOUND IN VIOLATION.

§ 14-9-14 - IMPOUNDMENT OF PROPERTY FOUND IN VIOLATION. (A) A peace officer or a civilian employee designated by the director may impound a structure, display, merchandise or goods placed, parked, or maintained on a street, highway, bridge, alley, sidewalk, or other public right-of-way in violation of this article. (B) Property impounded under this section may be removed immediately and redeemed or disposed of in accordance with Chapter 9-1 (Abandoned Property and Vehicles). Source: 1992 Code Section 15-1-2(E); Ord. 031204-12; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. No. 20180426-027, Pt. 6, 4-26-18.

Source: City of Austin, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/austin/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT14USSTPUPR_CH14-9TRSIOB_ART2RESTSAFetched: 10/27/2026