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Car Wash License

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Before you submit your application

  • 1

    You must have the applicable Business Certificate based on your business’s legal structure. More info

      Although DCWP does not require submission of your Business Certificate in order to process your application, DCWP may request this document under section 20-104 of the New York City Administrative Code.

  • 2
  • 3
  • 4

    Provide your Sales Tax Identification Number OR Certificate of Authority Application Confirmation Number. More info

  • 5

    Submit a copy of your $150,000 Surety Bond, properly signed. More info

      The bond amount is $150,000* and must cover the licensing period. The copy of the bond must name the City of New York as the Certificate Holder. Your corporate name, Doing-Business-As (DBA) name (if any), and premises address must be exactly the same on all documents. You must also submit a copy of the bond receipt showing that the bond has been paid in full and does not expire before the end of the licensing period.

      *Exception:
      The bond amount is $30,000 IF:

      • You are a party to a current collective bargaining agreement (CBA)** that provides for the timely payment of wages and a quick process for resolving disputes about nonpayment and underpayment of wages. OR
      • You entered into a settlement with a state or federal government agency and are covered by an active monitoring agreement*** that:
        1. Requires you to pay at least the minimum wage. AND
        2. Subjects you to at least monthly monitoring by an independent monitor. AND
        3. Provides for a quick process for resolving disputes about wage violations.


      **If you are a party to a current CBA:
      You must submit with your license application:

      • A complete copy of the current CBA AND
      • ONE of the following:
        • A copy of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) certification of the labor organization as the exclusive bargaining representative of the employees OR
        • Documentation establishing recognition of the labor organization as the exclusive bargaining representative of the employees


      ***If you are covered by an active monitoring agreement:
      You must submit a copy of the agreement with your license application.


      Depending on your submission, DCWP may request additional information.


      You may obtain a surety bond from a bonding company. Download a list of bonding companies. The list is not exhaustive, and DCWP does not endorse or recommend any particular bonding company.

      The bond must comply with the requirements of CWAL. As shown in DCWP’s Surety Bond template, the bond must:

      • Comply with the Car Wash Accountability Law and Rules (NYC Administrative Code, subchapter 33, and Title 6 of the Rules of the City of NY, subchapter HH). AND
      • Be conditioned upon the satisfaction of any fine or debt owed to New York City within 30 days. AND
      • Be conditioned upon the satisfaction of any judgment against you for damage to a car within 30 days. AND
      • Be conditioned upon the satisfaction of any judgment owed to an employee for nonpayment or underpayment of wages within 30 days. AND
      • Name the City of New York as the Obligee. AND
      • Include the same corporate name, Doing-Business-As (DBA) name (if any), and premises address as your license application. AND
      • Cover the licensing period.
  • 6

    Provide a copy of ONE of the following documents as proof of workers’ compensation insurance: More info


      • C-105.2: Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance OR
      • U-26.3: State Insurance Fund Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance OR
      • Equivalent or successor form used by the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board

      If you are not required by law to maintain workers’ compensation insurance, you must submit form CE-200: Certificate of Attestation of Exemption. For more information, visit New York State Workers’ Compensation Board at www.wcb.ny.gov.

  • 7

    Provide a copy of ONE of the following documents as proof of disability benefits insurance: More info

      • DB-120.1: Certificate of Insurance Coverage under the New York State Disability Benefits Law OR
      • Equivalent or successor form used by the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board

      If you are not required by law to maintain disability benefits insurance, you must submit form CE-200: Certificate of Attestation of Exemption. For more information, visit New York State Workers’ Compensation Board at www.wcb.ny.gov.

  • 8

    Submit proof of Commercial General Liability Insurance. More info

      Your insurance policy must provide coverage that is at least as broad as the most recently issued edition of Insurance Services (ISO) Form CG 0001 and must be “occurrence” based. The Insurance Company that issues the policy must have ONE of the following ratings:

      • A.M. Best rating of at least A- / “VII”
      • Standard & Poor’s rating of at least A
      • Moody’s Investors Service rating of at least A3
      • Fitch Ratings rating of at least A-

      Provide the following documents as proof of commercial general liability insurance:
      Your Certificate of Insurance must:

      • Name the City of New York as the certificate holder.
      • Be executed by an insurance broker or agent and list the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Number.
      • Include the same business name and address as all documents.
      • State The City of New York is an “Additional Insured” in the description box.
      • State coverage is “occurrence” based.
      • Have the following minimum amounts of coverage:
        • $1,000,000 per occurrence
        • $2,000,000 aggregate

      Additional Insured Endorsement.

      • DCWP accepts the following Additional Insured Endorsements:
        • ISO Form CG 20 26
        • ISO Form CG 20 12
      • An endorsement that provides coverage at least as broad as the most recent edition ISO Form CG 20 26 or CG 20 12
      • If you are providing a Scheduled Additional Insured Endorsement that lists the additional insured name (i.e., ISO Forms CG 20 26 or CG 20 12), the endorsement must include either of the following phrases:
        • “The City of New York including its officials and employees” OR
        • “The City of New York together with its officials and employees”
      • If you are providing a Blanket Additional Insured Endorsement, an Automatic Additional Insured Endorsement, or a provision from your insurance policy that automatically grants additional insured status to an organization that the named insured is required by contract to add as an insured, confirm that the coverage is at least as broad as the most recent edition of ISO Form CG 20 26 or CG 20 12 before you submit the form.

      Notarized Certification by Insurance Broker or Agent.
      Your insurance broker or agent must complete the Certification.

  • 9

    Provide proof of Unemployment Insurance. More info

      • Provide a copy of the determination letter you received from the New York State Department of Labor when you registered for unemployment insurance
      • If you have not registered your business for unemployment insurance, you can register online at www.labor.ny.gov or by calling the New York State Department of Labor at (518) 457-4179 or (888) 899-8810. You will need to have a federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) in order to register your business for unemployment insurance. You can get an EIN from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) online at www.irs.gov/businesses or by calling the IRS at (800) 829-3676.
  • 10

    If someone other than the license applicant will prepare and submit this application, complete the Granting Authority to Act Affirmation. More info

      Note: The applicant must sign the license application and all related forms.

  • 11

    License Fee. More info


      If You File Your Application Between These Dates: License Fee
      Option 1
      License Fee
      Option 2
      From November 1 in an odd year to April 30 in an even year Pay $550 for a license expiring October 31 of the next odd year. (Valid for at most 24 months.) N/A
      From May 1 in an even year to October 31 in an even year ay $412.50 for a license expiring October 31 of the following year. (Valid for at most 18 months.) N/A
      From November 1 in an even year to April 30 in an odd year Pay $275 for a license expiring October 31 of the soonest odd year. (Valid for at most 12 months.) N/A
      From May 1 in an odd year to October 31 in an odd year Pay $137.50 for a license expiring October 31 of the same year. (Valid for at most 6 months.) Pay $687.50 for a license expiring October 31 of the next odd year. (Valid for at most 30 months.)
      Pay by:
      - Check or money order payable to DCWP. (In person application submissions.)
      - Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover Card only). You will be charged a nonrefundable Convenience Fee. (In person or online application submissions.)
  • Ready to Apply?

    Steps to apply online:

  • 1

    Review the requirements for the license and gather all materials before clicking the Apply Online button. Note: You will be redirected to a new web page where you will need a registered account with the City of New York to submit an online application.

    • 2

      After submitting an application online, print a copy of the Confirmation Page. The Confirmation Page will list the additional steps and materials required to complete the application. These materials are also listed above and must be submitted within five business days of filing the application online if they were not uploaded as part of the online application submission.

      • Steps to apply in person:

      • 1

        Complete the required application forms and gather all necessary documentation identified in the section above.

        • 2

          Schedule an appointment to file in person at the DCWP Licensing Center or NYC Small Business Support Center. View flyer to learn how to schedule an appointment.