City staff told the Community Health and Safety Council Committee on Nov. 5, 2025, that unlicensed street food vendors operating in Everett raise public-health and enforcement concerns and that the mayor has directed staff to develop a local response plan.

Jennifer (city staff) said complaints have come from residents and brick-and-mortar restaurants in multiple neighborhoods, including Silver Lake, North Everett and South Everett. “It is a public health issue,” Jennifer said, describing cases in which food was reportedly prepared in makeshift commissaries (stored in buckets or ice chests) and stands that lack running water and appropriate temperature control.

Staff described documented cases of consumer illness and said local public-health agencies often have limited enforcement tools beyond issuing cease-and-desist notifications. Jennifer said enforcement is complicated by the vendors’ mobility, language barriers, and frequent inability to identify or locate a business owner behind the operator on the street. The city has been in contact with the Snohomish County Health District, King County Department of Health, Washington State Patrol and regional partners to study other jurisdictions’ approaches.

Dan Templeman, with city administration, said the city partners with Everett Police to remove vendors occupying right-of-way and that liability risk may exist when vendors operate on city property. “I do believe that there would potentially be liability risk,” Templeman said, noting enforcement is handled on a case-by-case basis.

Staff said the mayor has directed staff to develop a response plan that will include enforcement options, outreach to operators to assist with licensing where possible, and public education. Jennifer recommended that residents who observe an unpermitted food stand contact the Snohomish County Health District. She also urged the public to avoid consuming food from stands that do not display permits, do not have handwashing stations, or do not appear to maintain appropriate temperatures.

As part of regional coordination, city staff are participating in a statewide food-vendor working group to explore broader solutions with state and county partners. Staff said outreach and public-facing guidance (how to spot unpermitted vendors and where to report them) will be part of Everett’s response plan.