CHENNAI: The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has approved the issuance of Certificates of Vending (CoV) to street vendors and the fixation of vending fees across categories, in line with directions of the Madras High Court and a subsequent government order.

The decision follows a GO issued in October 2025, which mandated the constitution of Town Vending Committees (TVCs) for each zone.

Accordingly, the GCC has constituted 15 of them under the chairmanship of the respective Regional Deputy Commissioners. As per the Tamil Nadu Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Scheme, 2015, the committees are authorised to issue Certificates of Vending with prescribed terms and conditions. The certificates will be valid for five years from the date of issue and will be renewed for a further period of five years on payment of Rs 100.

The scheme classifies vendors as stationary vendors, mobile vendors with and without motor vehicles, and head-load vendors, with vending fees prescribed based on the area occupied. Under the approved decision, vendors occupying up to 25 sq ft will continue to be charged as per the slab-wise rates prescribed in the 2015 scheme. For vendors occupying more than 25 sq ft, a flat annual fee has been fixed.