Economic Justice
Challenging the City of Fontana’s Unlawful Street Vending Rules
Case Overview
our Clients
Our Organizational Client
Despite strong California laws protecting the rights of street vendors, the City of Fontana has implemented local ordinances clearly designed to drive vendors out of the city. These anti-vending regulations impose burdensome and unlawful requirements, including expensive multi-million dollar insurance policies not required of brick-and-mortar businesses selling similar goods, and annual background checks.
Fontana has further escalated the situation by partnering with a third-party contractor to aggressively enforce these ordinances. This enforcement often involves harassment, confiscation of vendors’ carts and equipment, and the destruction of their food and supplies. Moreover, Fontana criminalizes any perceived interference with enforcement, subjecting vendors to penalties of up to six months imprisonment, and imposes a mandatory 30-day hold on confiscated property. These punitive measures directly violate state laws that decriminalize and legalize street vending statewide.
The City’s actions have resulted in hundreds of confiscations of food and goods, and more than 80 instances of impounded equipment, causing financial and emotional harm to dozens of street vendors. Additionally, very few vendors have been able to obtain vending licenses in the city due to its onerous and unlawful permitting requirements.
Filing
In August 2025, the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice (ICIJ), represented by Public Counsel and pro bono law firm Arnold & Porter, filed a lawsuit challenging these unconstitutional practices. The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction to stop Fontana’s unlawful enforcement, enabling street vendors to safely and lawfully resume their livelihoods.
Court
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Status
Filed
Case No.
5:25-cv-02092
Filed
08/11/2025
Case Developments
Filing
02/13/2026
Individual Vendors Bravely Join Lawsuit as Plaintiffs
In an Amended Complaint, the Organizational Plaintiff ICIJ was joined by three vendor members, A.M., A.P., and L.C., as individual Plaintiffs suing Defendants the City of Fontana and its enforcement contractor 4Leaf, Inc. for discriminatory practices against street vendors (largely represented by Latinos), unconstitutional seizure of property, and damages.
Filing
01/15/2026
Court Issues Ruling on Motions to Dismiss Granting Leave to Amend
Judge Sunshine Sykes granted in part and denied in part Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss, and granted leave for Plaintiff to amend the complaint.
ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART DEFENDANTS MOTIONS TO DIMISS
Filing & Update
12/15/2025
Defendants File Motions to Dismiss; Hearing Continued
Defendants City of Fontana and 4Leaf filed motions to dismiss seeking to end the case. Judge Sunshine Sykes will decide whether Plaintiffs’ claims may proceed.
On Dec. 15, 2025, the court continued the hearing from Dec. 19, 2025, to Jan. 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., and ordered that any hearing on the motions be conducted in person.
DEFENDANT CITY OF FONTANA MOTION TO DISMISS
DEFENDANT 4LEAF MOTION TO DISMISS
OPPOSITION TO CITY OF FONTANA MOTION TO DISMISS
OPPOSITION TO 4LEAF MOTION TO DISMISS
DEFENDANT CITY OF FONTANA REPLY In Support Of MOTION TO DISMISS
Press Releases
Media
- San Bernardino Sun, Street vendors sue, say Fontana makes it ‘impossible’ to keep businesses open, 8/13/25
- NBC4, Street vendors sue city of Fontana over ‘discriminatory’ rules, 8/12/25
- Telemundo 52, Vendedores ambulantes demandan a la ciudad de Fontana, 8/12/25
- Univision 34, Fontana enfrenta demanda por ir contra vendedores ambulantes, 8/12/25
- KVCR, Fontana sued over street vending laws allowing equipment seizures, private enforcement, 8/12/25
