Attachment D - Downtown Arts Vending on Private Property Pilot Program Policy

City of Phoenix 
Downtown Arts Vending on Private Property Pilot Program 
Purpose  
This policy is intended to establish a Downtown Arts Vending on Private Property 
(DAVOPP) Pilot Program.  The Pilot Program re-establishes the First Friday Artwalk 
within its original downtown footprint and refocuses efforts on selling art-related goods 
from vendors on private property.  The Pilot Program also establishes that no right-of-
way (alley or street) closures for First Friday events will be supported by the City during 
First Fridays within the Downtown Code area.   
Framework  
This policy discusses First Friday event history as it has evolved over the years, along 
with highlighting some of the more recent challenges.  The second section lays out the 
background elements of the policy along with a discussion of the applicable geographic 
boundary areas.  Finally, it lists the necessary requirements to allow permits to be 
issued that allow for arts-related vending on private property during First Friday events.   
History 
In the early 1990s, a small group of artists created informal gatherings called “Phoenix 
Arts Afterhours,” where galleries and studios stayed open late and invited the public to 
explore a largely quiet downtown.  By 1994, the nonprofit Artlink stepped in to help 
coordinate and legitimize the growing event, shifting it to the first Friday of each month 
and rebranding it as “First Fridays.”  Artlink provided structure—organizing maps, 
promoting participating venues, acting as a liaison with the City and sponsoring a 
circulating trolley that connected key areas and made the expanding event more 
accessible, though still a grassroots effort.  Key members of Artlink. were also involved 
in creating the Roosevelt Row Community Development Corporation (CDC), along with 
the Evans Churchill Community Association, both of which are currently still active in 
planning and promoting First Friday events.  
The City of Phoenix has supported First Fridays in numerous ways over the years, but it 
has always been a privately planned and promoted event.  The City developed the Arts, 
Culture and Small Business Overlay (ACOD) to allow for new uses like art studios and 
galleries as well as restaurant and retail/office uses in 2008.  This area also created 
some of the first adaptive reuse development guidelines that make it easier for older 
residential homes to meet construction code requirements that allow for the new uses 
permitted by the ACOD inside the buildings.  This helped to attract new investment and 
attention to the area because people could see it was transforming into an arts district

and how the City helped support the promoters to create the Roosevelt Row Arts 
District.   
Over time, the event expanded through a gradually developing network of arts districts 
and institutions, including Roosevelt Row CDC (RR), Historic Grand Avenue, the 
Warehouse District, Midtown Phoenix, Melrose District and major cultural anchors like 
the Phoenix Art Museum, and Herberger Theater Center.  Each organically contributed 
venues, programming, promotion support and audiences.  This evolving collaboration 
helped transform First Fridays from a small, artist-led "experiment" into a broad cultural 
event central to downtown Phoenix’s revitalization.  Traditionally, the event has featured 
staples such as art, limited street vendors, live music, entertainment, food and more.  
In recent years the promoters have relied on Special Event Permits and right-of-way 
street closures to allow for vending and performances in the right-of-way within and 
around Roosevelt Street.  These events have grown significantly post-pandemic and at 
the same time, the focus of art-related vendors changed significantly to more of a street 
fair mix of vendors with general merchandise and mobile food vending.  The event 
began to attract attendees that were not as interested in viewing and purchasing art 
while stopping into existing businesses for food and/or drinks.  These factors created 
more strain on public safety resources and ultimately became unsustainable for the 
event promoters.    
Background 
This policy is a part of the broader evolutionary process that First Friday is undergoing 
at the direction of the promoters: RR, Artlink and Downtown Phoenix Inc. (DPI) with 
input from their stakeholders.  Their June 4, 2026 letter outlined several ideas they are 
working to evaluate/implement regarding First Friday.  These ideas were based upon 
community feedback at numerous listening sessions, including one hosted by Vice 
Mayor Kesha Hodge Washington and Councilwoman Anna Hernandez that was 
attended by approximately 75 people.  The letter requested that the City develop this 
Pilot Program and at the direction of Mayor Kate Gallego, Vice Mayor Hodge 
Washington and Councilwoman Hernandez staff has developed the proposed policy.  
Please see Attachment B for a copy of the letter.  Multiple City departments met over 
the summer to work on the request, and the below goals were developed to guide 
creation of the Policy. 
• Art focused vending; 
• Prioritize local businesses; 
• Allow for multiple events on private property in a focused area; 
• Minimize right-of-way conflicts; 
• Enhance communication with multiple permit holders;

• Educate permit holders on building occupancy and assembly permits; 
• Efficient permit process; 
• Successful enforcement mechanisms; 
• Minimum one year of operating experience to evaluate the Pilot Program. 
The overall boundaries of the DAVOPP area are shown on Attachment C with a dark 
black line.  They generally are the properties that front on the north side of McDowell 
Road; an irregular area along 7th Avenue; an irregular area on the south bordered by 
Sherman, Buckeye and Hadley streets and generally 7th Street on the east.  These 
boundaries establish the following: 
• The limits of the overall Pilot Program.  This policy does not apply to any First 
Friday activities happening outside of these boundaries.   
• Right-of-way requests to close streets and/or alleys during the days/times of First 
Friday Art events will not be approved to allow for proper evaluation of the private 
property provisions and to better ensure a successful outcome at the end of the 
one-year Pilot Program.   
• Other right-of-way closure requests within the boundaries that do not have a First 
Friday arts focus will be evaluated through the traditional process led by the 
Street Transportation Department.   
Attachment C also shows the Arts, Culture and Small Business Area within the 
Downtown Code in blue as it defines the permitted area for the arts vending on private 
property.  The blue area is generally bounded by 7th Street on the east; an irregular 
area on the north from Moreland Street down to properties that front on the north side of 
Roosevelt Street; on the west by the properties that front on the west side of 7th Avenue 
from Roosevelt Street down to Polk Street; on the south by an irregular area of 
properties that front of the south side of Roosevelt Street down to McKinley Street.  
These boundaries establish the following: 
• Allowances for outdoor artistic public events and performances subject to the 
requirements of Section 1207 of the Zoning Ordinance along with other 
enhanced standards to promote art in this area.   
• Application boundaries for the Pilot Program to allow art related vending on 
private property.   
• A maximum of 25 Administrative Temporary Use Permits (ATUP) and a maximum 
of 5 Temporary Use Permits (TUP) 
• Establishes the conditions that must be met for either an ATUP or TUP to be 
approved as outlined in the Requirements section below.

Requirements 
A. Downtown Arts Vending on Private Property Pilot Program 
 
1. The Pilot Program will be effective for 12 First Fridays, beginning with the first 
First Friday following the City Council’s adoption of the Pilot Program.   
 
2. The Pilot Program is only applicable within the Arts, Culture and Small 
Business Area, located within the Downtown Code (DTC).  See Attachment C. 
 
3. Maximum twenty-five (25) ATUPs will be approved per First Friday. 
  
4. Maximum five (5) TUPs will be approved per First Friday. 
 
5. Applications will be accepted beginning at 8:00 a.m., Wednesday September 
16, 2026. 
 
6. Pilot program vendors shall be arts-focused and may sell locally produced 
arts, crafts or food items.  These may include, but are not limited to, paintings, 
prints, posters, stickers, magnets, jewelry, handcrafted apparel, pottery, 
ceramics and glass work.  Artisanal food and drinks are permitted so long as 
they are not dispensed from a vehicle unless a TUP is obtained.  Prohibited 
items may include, but are not limited to, off-the-shelf consumer goods, 
secondhand goods, electronics, sunglasses and personal services such as 
massage, henna, tattoos and palm reading. 
 
7. The Pilot Program does not eliminate rights to host Outdoor Public Events 
and Performances for properties within the Arts, Culture and Small Business 
Area, as regulated by Zoning Ordinance Section 1207.M.3. 
 
8. The Pilot Program does not prevent applicants in the DTC from applying for 
ATUPs or TUPs that are required as components of a Temporary Extension of 
Premises (EOP) application within the DTC, so long as the proposal is not 
inclusive of or limited to vendors, and is not related to or include any request 
for right-of-way closure (i.e., public alley or street). 
 
9. Street closures and/or any proposal for activity within right-of-way (i.e., public 
alley or street) will not be permitted for First Friday events occurring within the 
boundaries of the Downtown Code during the same time as First Friday.

Street closures unrelated to First Friday will continue to be processed by the 
Street Transportation Department.  
 
10. The City reserves the right to not approve any ATUP, TUP, or EOP based 
upon public safety concerns; or apply additional requirements as part of the 
individual permit review process to address public safety concerns.  
 
B. Administrative Temporary Use Permit (ATUP) 
 
1. General Guidelines 
 
a. Maximum one (1) ATUP application shall be permitted per property.  Only 
one application shall be active on any property at one time. 
 
b. The applicant must be either the property owner or tenant (with owner 
authorization).  Applications will not be accepted from third-party vendors. 
 
c. The ATUP application must comprise all the proposed temporary uses on 
the subject property, but do not need to list specific vendor names.  
 
d. Applications shall be limited to a maximum two (2) First Fridays.  
 
(1) The applicant may submit a written request for extension within one 
week of the last First Friday approved through an ATUP.  If approved, a 
fee equal to the original filing fee will be assessed.  Extensions shall 
also be limited to a maximum of two (2) additional First Fridays.  
Failure to submit a request for extension will result in the property 
being returned to review on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis.  So long 
as the applicant submitted a timely application and complied with all 
Pilot Program requirements then the two-month extension shall be 
granted by staff.  
 
e. ATUP applications may only be approved for vending activities between 
5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.  Setup and takedown must occur within one hour 
of these times. 
 
f. Minimum 200 square feet of open space is required per vendor.  The 200 
square feet of vendor area shall not include any designated pedestrian 
pathways, spaces inaccessible to pedestrians, required parking areas, etc.  
Vendor set-ups (e.g., tents, tables, racks, etc.) shall be set back a

minimum of 5 feet from any property line adjacent to right-of-way (i.e., 
public alley or street). 
 
g. The property must maintain a minimum 10-foot wide interior walkway 
connecting the public sidewalk area to main and any emergency building 
ingress/egress points.  
 
h. No food or beverage dispensed from a vehicle. 
 
i. Each subject property shall be required to designate a contact person (i.e., 
‘Representative’ on ATUP application) who will be present on-site during 
First Friday for City staff to call, text or email as needed.  
 
j. The use shall not reduce the number of parking spaces below the number 
required by the Zoning Ordinance for existing uses on the site. 
 
k. The applicant shall obtain any additional permits as required by the 
Phoenix Fire Department or other City departments. 
 
2. Application Requirements and Details 
 
a. Applicants shall submit applications using the existing ATUP application 
packet. 
 
b. The ATUP application shall require the following items: 
 
(1) Completed application page.  
 
(2) Notarized authorization letter from property owner to apply (if applicant 
is tenant). 
 
(3) Site plan/sketch illustrating buildings, vendors, required walkways and 
other details as required by the Pilot Program. 
 
(4) A current aerial of the subject property with the temporary area 
delineated. 
 
(5) Application fee - $135.00 (single fee allows two First Fridays per 
application) per Zoning Ordinance Appendix A, Zoning Fee Schedule in 
order to facilitate staff review of issued permits to allow extensions. 
Extensions will be assessed the same $135.00 fee (fee allows two

additional First Fridays per extension).  Maximum fees not to exceed 
$810.00 for duration of Pilot Program. 
 
c. Stipulations reflecting details of the Pilot Program may be applied by staff 
as part of any ATUP approval and must be met by the permit holder.  It is 
the permit holder’s responsibility to ensure vendor compliance. 
 
C. Temporary Use Permit (TUP) 
 
1. General Guidelines 
 
a. A Temporary Use Permit (TUP) shall be required when:  
 
(1) Proposal exceeds the allowances of the ATUP policy.  
 
(2) Proposal includes utilization of required parking area(s). 
 
(3) Food or beverage is dispensed from a vehicle.  Maximum two (2) 
vehicles permitted per property.  Vehicles must be parked on a 
dustproofed surface.  Vehicles shall not be placed within 15 feet of any 
right-of-way (i.e., public alley or street). 
 
b. Maximum one (1) TUP application shall be permitted per property.   
 
c. The applicant must be either the property owner or tenant (with owner 
authorization).  Applications will not be accepted from third-party vendors. 
 
d. The submittal must comprise all the proposed temporary uses on the 
subject property. 
 
e. Applications shall be limited to a maximum two (2) First Fridays. 
 
(1) At the applicant’s request during the public hearing, approved TUPs 
may be stipulated to a two-month review.  Extensions, dependent on a 
positive outcome at the stipulated review hearing, shall also be limited 
to two (2) First Fridays and will themselves be subject to an additional 
stipulated two-month review for further extension. 
 
f. Permitted between 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.  Requests to exceed these 
times shall not exceed 11:00 p.m.  Setup and takedown must occur within 
one hour of the approved times.

g. Minimum 200 square feet of open space is required per vendor.  The 200 
square feet of vendor area shall not include any designated pedestrian 
pathways, spaces inaccessible to pedestrians, required parking areas, etc.  
Vendor set-ups (e.g., tents, tables, racks, etc.) shall be set back a 
minimum of 5 feet from any property line adjacent to right-of-way (i.e., 
public alley or street). 
 
h. The property must maintain a minimum 10-foot wide interior walkway 
connecting the public sidewalk area to main and any emergency building 
ingress/egress points. 
 
i. Each subject property shall be required to designate a contact person who 
will be present on-site during First Friday for City staff to call, text or email 
as needed.  
 
j. The total time approved in one TUP, including all extensions, shall not 
exceed the length of the Pilot Program. 
 
k. The applicant shall obtain any additional permits as required by the 
Phoenix Fire Department or other City departments. 
 
2. Application Requirements and Details 
 
a. Applicants shall submit applications using the existing Zoning Adjustment 
application packet.  The application will be required to follow the existing 
Zoning Adjustment process, including the public notification requirements. 
 
b. The Zoning Adjustment application requires the following items: 
 
(1) Completed Zoning Adjustment Worksheet and Ownership Verification 
Form.  Authorization letter from property owner is required (if applicant 
is tenant). 
 
(2) Two (2) copies of a sketch or site plan of the subject property 
illustrating buildings, vendors, vehicles dispensing food or beverages, 
required walkways, and other details as required by the Pilot Program. 
 
(3) A written narrative detailing the proposal, including compliance with 
details of the Pilot Program, and all required information as outlined in 
the Zoning Adjustment application packet.

(4) Application fee - $1,380.00 (single fee allows up to 12 First Fridays, 
with extensions, per application) per Zoning Ordinance Appendix A, 
Zoning Fee Schedule.  Extensions and/or related review hearings will 
not be assessed any additional fees.  Maximum fees not to exceed 
$1,380.00 for duration of Pilot Program. 
 
c. Stipulations reflecting details of the Pilot Program may be applied by a 
Zoning Adjustment Hearing Officer through the public hearing process and 
must be met by the permit holder.  It is the permit holder’s responsibility to 
ensure vendor compliance.  
 
Attachments 
 
Attachment A - Pilot Program Key Elements 
Attachment B -  6.4.26 Roosevelt Row First Friday Events Letter 
Attachment C - Pilot Program Map of Applicable Permit Area