Vendors beware: NLR checking licenses

North Little Rock is using its enforcement officer to crack down on illegal vendors and peddlers on weekends, and the city want residents to let them know when they see violations of the law.

Shannon Carroll sent out an email Tuesday letting city officials know he was going to be patrolling the city Saturday to provide revenue enforcement in the city. He said he will be monitoring empty lots that attract food trucks, produce sellers and other vendors that may not be allowed as well as checking residential neighborhoods for license verification of lawn and landscape workers.

“If anyone has a particular area, activity of concern, or issues that need to be followed up on, please do not hesitate to contact me before the end of this week if you become aware of any information,” Carroll said in the email.

Chief Deputy City Clerk and Treasurer Katelyn Thomas said the city passed legislation in the 1940s requiring businesses to have a privilege license to operate.

“Advertising, exchanging of money, landlords, real estate, pretty much anyone doing a transaction — if they don’t have a license, then they are in violation of the ordinance,” she said.

Door-to-door solicitors are also required to get a license along with a peddler’s permit badge that includes their picture, name and employer.

“We also maintain a list of peddlers on our website,” Thomas said.

North Little Rock will honor other cities’ business licenses if the vendor doesn’t have a physical location within the city.

City Clerk and Treasurer Diane Whitbey said North Little Rock didn’t have an enforcement officer before 2017, and this allowed some people to take advantage of the city despite the ordinance.

“Vendors would come into town on Saturdays because they knew code enforcement didn’t work on the weekends,” she said.

Whitbey said when Carroll took over as enforcement officer it allowed the city to do periodic patrols and crack down on illegal activity. She said North Little Rock residents can call (501) 975-8617 to file a complaint about potential illegal vendor activity.

Thomas said a caller will be asked for a description of the business, any vehicle being used and more information to pinpoint the patrol.

“He will go out and ask about business licenses, and as long as you have that, then you are free to go,” she said. “If they don’t have one, then he will usually just educate them, but if he catches the same one multiple times, then he will issue a citation.”

Carroll said most of the enforcement is with businesses that made some alterations and new licensing or zoning requirements fell through the cracks. He said the patrols allow him to inform potential vendors of the city’s laws.

“We will also use social media posts to see what places I might need to go and check out,” he said.

Carroll said the most common thing he sees are retail vendors setting up shop in an empty parking lot by a busy road.

“They will put out some clothes or household goods; also there are produce vendors,” he said. “For the most part it’s people who are coming in from outside the city.”

Whitbey said one of the bigger concerns is unlicensed tree trimmers operating in the city.

“You will have a guy pull up with a ladder and ask if he can trim your trees,” she said. “But if it falls on your house or if it takes out power lines, then the homeowner will be responsible.”

Carroll said for the most part the people he runs into simply aren’t aware of the licensing rules or don’t know where the city limits are.

Information about licensing may be found at www.nlr. ar.gov under the City Clerk and Treasurer’s page.