Summerside regulates mobile vendors

The City of Summerside, P.E.I. has brought in new licensing fees and rules for mobile sales vendors.

The regulations would apply to anyone selling out of a trailer or truck. It sets a fee of $500 for local business, one that owns property in the city, and $1,000 for one that doesn't.

"This licence can only be moved to two locations. So it's not like it's going to show up on every street corner or anything like that over a period of time," said deputy mayor Bruce MacDougall.

"It's two locations and if they need to add another one they have to come back to council."

Council also has the right to refuse an application if there are issues such as safety concerns or an impact on established businesses. The mobile vendor also has to have written permissionfrom the property owner where the truck or trailer is being set up.

The licence has to be renewed every year.

The new regulations are in response to concerns from some local businesses that felt these mobile operations could have an unfair competitive advantage.