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Food Cart Vendor Permit

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To sell food or drinks from a pushcart or truck, you need both a Mobile Food Vending Permit and a Mobile Food Vending License. The license is required before applying for the permit. Visit the Food Cart Vendor License page to learn how to get a Mobile Food Vending License.

You must have a Seasonal (Temporary) Mobile Food Vending Unit Permit to prepare and sell food or drinks from a pushcart or truck on a seasonal basis. This permit allows vendors to operate April 1 through October 31.

To apply for a permit, you must first apply to get on a waiting list. This waiting list is currently closed. If you are currently on a waiting list, you will be offered a permit as it becomes available.

You must have a Year-Round Mobile Food Vending Unit Permit to prepare and sell food or drinks from a pushcart or truck year-round.

A new local law changes how mobile food vendors can get a new Year-Round Mobile Food Vending Unit Permit. Vendors will need a new type of license called a supervisory license.

Supervisory License

The NYC Health Department will offer 445 supervisory license applications each year for 10 years beginning in July 2022. 

The citywide and non-Manhattan supervisory license waiting lists will open in November 2022.

Vendors eligible to join these waiting lists include:

  • Vendors who were on a full-term citywide or borough-specific permit waiting list
  • Vendors who continuously held a mobile food vending license from March 1, 2017 through February 28, 2021

Learn about supervisory licenses, including eligibility requirements.

You can download or request a permit application. It includes forms and information about requirements.

Online

Visit the DOHMH permits and licenses page.

By Mail

Call 311 or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675) to request a copy.

To apply in person, you have to bring your completed application to an appointment.

You can schedule an appointment at:

  • DCWP Licensing Center
    42 Broadway
    New York, NY 10004
    Mon - Thu: 8 AM - 4 PM; last appointment at 3:30 PM
     
  • NYC Small Business Support Center
    90-27 Sutphin Boulevard, 4th Floor
    Jamaica, NY 11435
    Mon - Thu: 8 AM - 4 PM; last appointment at 3:30 PM

Please note: DCWP will no longer be at the Queens location after June 30, 2025.

Schedule by Email

LicensingAppointments@dcwp.nyc.gov

Schedule by Phone

  • Agency: Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
  • Division: Licensing Appointment Line
  • Phone Number: (212) 436-0441
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 4 PM

Several weeks before your permit expires, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will mail you a renewal package.

To renew in person, you have to bring your completed application to an appointment.

You can schedule an appointment at:

  • DCWP Licensing Center
    42 Broadway
    New York, NY 10004
    Mon - Thu: 8 AM - 4 PM; last appointment at 3:30 PM
     
  • NYC Small Business Support Center
    90-27 Sutphin Boulevard, 4th Floor
    Jamaica, NY 11435
    Mon - Thu: 8 AM - 4 PM; last appointment at 3:30 PM

Please note: DCWP will no longer be at the Queens location after June 30, 2025.

Schedule by Email

LicensingAppointments@dcwp.nyc.gov

Schedule by Phone

  • Agency: Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
  • Division: Licensing Appointment Line
  • Phone Number: (212) 436-0441
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 4 PM

You can check the status of your application by phone.

  • Agency: Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
  • Division: Licensing Center
  • Phone Number: (212) 487-4104
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 4 PM

Visit the following pages for help with:

If you have permit-specific questions or concerns, you can get help by phone.

  • Agency: Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
  • Division: Licensing Center
  • Phone Number: (212) 487-4104
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 4 PM

You can schedule a pre-permit inspection by phone.

  • Agency: Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  • Division: Bureau of Food Safety and Community Sanitation
  • Phone Number: (212) 676-1600
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

A new local law changes how mobile food vendors can get a new full-term (year-round) mobile food vending permit. To get a new, full-term mobile food vending permit, you will need a new type of license called a supervisory license.

The NYC Health Department has established a waiting list for the supervisory license. It's currently closed to new applicants.

The waiting list for supervisory licenses for veterans and people with disabilities opened on February 22, 2023.

Learn about supervisory licenses, permits, and waiting lists.

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