The Los Cabos municipal government distributed official credentials and white uniforms to 698 registered street vendors operating on beaches and in tourist zones. Municipal secretary Alberto Rentería Santana led the ceremony, calling the program a step toward giving both vendors and visitors greater security about who is legally authorized to sell goods in public spaces.
The credentials were distributed through representatives of vendor unions, according to officials with the Federal Maritime Land Zone (ZOFEMAT). Manuel Barajas, head of Fiscal Inspection for Los Cabos, said the new system will make enforcement easier. With uniforms and IDs, inspectors can quickly identify authorized vendors on sight.
What the Uniforms Look Like
Licensed vendors are now required to wear a standard uniform consisting of white pants and a white long-sleeve shirt. Each vendor also carries a numbered ID badge issued by the municipality. The combination is designed to make authorized sellers immediately recognizable on beaches like Playa El Médano in Cabo San Lucas and along the marina boardwalk.
For anyone buying souvenirs or handicrafts on the beach, the rule is simple: look for the white uniform and the badge. If a vendor is not wearing both, they are not part of the registered program.
Crackdown on Unlicensed Sellers
The credentialing effort is one half of a broader enforcement push. Municipal authorities previously swept more than 300 unlicensed vendors from Playa El Médano, and officials have said that only the 698 permitted vendors will be allowed to operate going forward. Registered vendors pay fees and undergo background checks as part of the licensing process.
Mayor Christian Agúndez Gómez has framed the vendor regulation as part of a larger campaign to keep public spaces orderly and protect the municipality’s reputation as a top tourist destination. At the same time, the administration has acknowledged that street vending supports hundreds of local families in Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo.
Where Licensed Vendors Operate
Authorized vendors are concentrated in the areas with the heaviest foot traffic, including Playa El Médano, the Cabo San Lucas marina, and other popular tourist corridors. The 698 permits cover sellers of handicrafts and other goods in these zones.
The challenge going forward will be enforcement. Previous crackdowns on unlicensed vendors have been followed by a gradual return of unauthorized sellers, particularly during the busy winter tourism season. Officials say the new uniform and ID system should make it harder for unlicensed vendors to blend in.
This story was first reported by the Los Cabos municipal government through its official news portal.