Vendor Enforcement Officer

Introduction

From food trucks along the waterfront to vendors serving the medical district and bustling Downtown streets, New Haven's street vending community is a vibrant part of the City's culture and economy. The Vendor Enforcement Officer plays a vital role in keeping this activity safe, fair, and thriving. This isn't a desk job. You'll spend most of your time in the field, traveling throughout New Haven, building relationships with vendors, responding to concerns, conducting inspections, and helping ensure compliance with City regulations.

One moment you may be checking vendor operations at Food Truck Paradise in Long Wharf; the next, you may be assisting a new vendor, investigating a complaint, or coordinating with City departments to resolve an issue.

If you enjoy working independently, interacting with people, solving problems, and being out in the community rather than behind a desk, this role offers a unique opportunity to make a visible impact every day. You'll serve as the face of the City's vending program while helping support local entrepreneurs and maintain welcoming public spaces for residents and visitors alike.

This position is responsible for field‑based inspection, investigation, and enforcement activities to ensure compliance with the City of New Haven’s vending ordinances. Work involves on‑site compliance inspections that arise from vending complaints, including enforcement of the special vending districts, monitoring of existing vendors, and issuing citations to vendors operating without a license to ensure compliance with local ordinances. This position is ideal for a self‑motivated professional who enjoys working independently, exercising sound judgment in the field, and contributing to the success of New Haven's dynamic food truck and street vending community.

You'll play a key role in maintaining safe, fair, and well‑managed public spaces while supporting one of the City's most unique and growing small business sectors.

This role reports to:
Building Official/Issuing Authority;
Vendor License Program Coordinator.

• Conducts field inspections of vending activities to ensure compliance with applicable City ordinances and regulations.
• Investigates complaints related to unpermitted or non‑compliant vending operations.
• Issues citations and notices of violation in accordance with local ordinances and established procedures.
• Educates vendors and the public regarding applicable laws, licensing requirements, and compliance standards.
• Monitors licensed vendors to ensure continued adherence to regulations and protocols.
• Prepares and maintains accurate and detailed records of inspections, violations, citations, and enforcement actions.
• Prepares written reports, case files, and documentation for administrative or legal proceedings.
• Coordinates with other City departments, concerning zoning, licensing, and public safety, as necessary.
• Performs related work as required.

• Three (3) to five (5) years of experience in code enforcement, municipal inspection, regulatory compliance, construction trades, or a closely related field.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in urban studies, public administration, construction management, or a related field.
• In lieu of college degree, an additional 4 years of closely related experience may be substituted.

• Considerable knowledge of local vending ordinance and the zoning ordinance as it relates to vending and public space.
• Considerable knowledge of special vending districts and associated rules, regulations, and licensing requirements.
• Ability to interpret and apply laws, ordinances, and regulations in field situations.
• Ability to assess violations and determine appropriate corrective actions to achieve compliance.
• Ability to prepare clear, accurate, and comprehensive reports and maintain organized enforcement records.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office for creating documents, spreadsheets, and reports.
• Competency in using email clients (e.g., Outlook, Gmail) and calendar applications for scheduling and managing…