Joinville City Hall said there is no specific rule for street vending inside the Zoobotanical Park and that any authorization cannot be granted individually.
The statement followed a viral complaint by photographer Thayna Renata, who said a park guard stopped her from selling instant photos to visitors.
Thayna had left a job paying about R$1,500 a month and said the new business brought in R$400 in a day and R$800 over one weekend, charging roughly R$20 to R$25 per photo.
After seeking guidance, she said city offices gave no clear answer on how a photographer with MEI status could legally work in the park or at other public spots.
The case has widened into a local debate over how public-space rules lag behind self-employed work in parks and other shared urban areas.