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Driving or walking along Old Santa Rita Road in Pleasanton, near the Chase Bank, it’s hard to miss the captivating aromas of Mexican food coming from an unassuming food stand on the sidewalk.
The stand, called Pleasanton Taco Stand at Santa Rita Road online, popped up sometime last year with videos dating as far back as June 2025 on TikTok and Instagram showing people reviewing and praising the authentic street Mexican food.
The business and its growing popularity — among others — has sparked concern over proper permitting and licensing for street food vendors in the city.
Paul Hammons is one of the neighbors who said he has been worried about health and safety for his fellow Pleasanton residents. Hammons said he was “taken aback from the open flames, by the gas cans, (and) by the mess” at the Santa Rita stand.
According to the city’s ordinance code, sidewalk vendors are described as vendors who are moving constantly and only stop for transactions; vendors who sell from a pushcart, stand or other non-motorized conveyance; or those who sell their product from a fixed location. However, all three types of sidewalk vendors do share one thing in common: they must all have proper permits from the city.
“While I understand the need for people to make a living, there are many very good laws that ensure workplace safety, cleanliness and standards for preparing, heating, and serving food that protect the public from foodborne illnesses,” Pleasanton Council member Matt Gaidos told the Weekly.
“Preparing and serving food without a place to use the bathroom or wash your hands properly puts the public at risk and is illegal competition for businesses that are running properly and following all of the rules,” he added.
Applying for a permit involves a fee and the vendor providing personal information and proof that they have a business license, among many other things. The city’s code also includes various stipulations, including regulations for how and where the vendor can operate
But even before applying for a city sidewalk vending permit, vendors must also obtain the appropriate Alameda County health permits — the Santa Rita food stand has neither, according to Pleasanton Communications Manager Heather Tiernan.
“At this time, the vendor does not have the required permits to legally operate,” Tiernan told the Weekly.
Hammons said he’s been looking into the matter, speaking with county and city officials, because he is worried about the risk of a fire breaking out and any health-related risk considering the food is being prepared out in the open without any OK from the county’s health department.
He noted that he is not targeting this one specific food stand, but any and all unlicensed food stands because of the risks they pose to customers.
The Weekly briefly spoke with one food vendor who said he is sent to locations like the Santa Rita spot by his boss, whom he did not name, and has no say in any of the permitting processes. Attempts to reach the vendor for additional comments were unsuccessful.
The issue with the Mexican food stand’s permitting dates as far as Sept. 18, 2025 when the Alameda County Environmental Health Department conducted joint enforcement at the food stand with support from Pleasanton’s code enforcement department, the Pleasanton Police Department and the Pleasanton Public Works Department.
According to the health department, the agencies also conducted another joint enforcement on April 8.
“ACEHD staff provided education to the unpermitted food vendor on the required permitting procedures and subsequently confiscated all food items and small utensils/equipment. Food was confiscated on both days, and smaller pieces of equipment were confiscated on 4/8/26,” health department officials told the Weekly.
Tiernan said the Pleasanton’s code enforcement officer has also conducted multiple evening enforcement efforts, which included having staff monitor the area during the vendor’s evening and late-night operating hours, in an attempt to “gain compliance with applicable vending and health regulations.” This included directing the vendor to cease operations.
But as both the county and the city noted, it’s not easy to enforce these permitting laws and regulations with any food vendor because of the nature of these self-run businesses.
“Enforcement can be particularly challenging with mobile vendors, as operators are able to relocate quickly or temporarily leave an area and return after enforcement activity has concluded,” Tiernan said. “Like many jurisdictions throughout California, the city continues working to address these challenges within the framework of current state sidewalk vending laws.”
As for the county, the health department stated that its Environmental Protection Division administers “the food safety program, which oversees all retail food facilities, including mobile food vendors, in Alameda County (excluding the City of Berkeley) to ensure a safe and wholesome food supply for the public, and compliance with the California Health and Safety Code.”
The county also stated that as they see the number of unlicensed food vendors growing, the health department is partnering with local jurisdictions to educate and help these vendors do business the legal way.
“Mobile food vendors are invited to attend our free informational sessions to learn about the requirements and the process for obtaining a valid health permit through the ACEHD, if their proposed operation is eligible for permitting,” the health department spokesperson told the Weekly.
“If a mobile food vendor continues to operate without a valid health permit after receiving education and direction from the ACEHD, then ACEHD coordinates with other local agencies to investigate and escalate enforcement efforts, which may include confiscation of food and equipment.”
Tiernan said the city of Pleasanton will continue working with the county and other partnering agencies to monitor the “unpermitted vending activity and community concerns.”
“The City’s focus is on ensuring compliance with applicable health, safety, and municipal regulations,” Tiernan said.
