Apply
Before you submit your application
Applicants for a "Restricted Area" Mobile Food Vending Unit Permit must present a valid contract or lease with the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation or the owner of the private property where the unit will operate.
Review the application and requirements to apply for a Restricted Area Mobile Food Vending Permit.
APPLICATION FOR A NEW RESTRICTED AREA MOBILE FOOD VENDING PERMIT (PDF )
If you intend to manufacture or sell frozen desserts, a separate Application for Permit form must also be completed. This separate permit is NOT for the pushcart or truck; it is for the frozen dessert machine. The annual fee for the "frozen dessert permit" is $25.00.
Proof of a Certificate of Authority to Collect Sales Tax. The address on the Certificate must match that of the applicant or establishment for which an application is being submitted. The address on the Certificate must match that of the applicant or establishment for which an application is being submitted.
Application for Registration as a Sales Tax Vendor (Certificate of Authority)
A New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) is required to determine that there are no Health Code or New York City Administrative Code violations issued to the applicant and for which outstanding fines are due. If the applicant is a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company (LLC), the clearance must reflect the corporate, partnership or LLC name. Payment of any outstanding fines must be made prior to submission of a permit application. Payment of fines can be made only by visiting OATH, located at 66 John Street, 10th floor, New York, New York 10038.
The Administrative Code requires that an applicant for a Mobile Food Vending Unit Permit provide, to DOHMH, a list of who will operate the unit. For more information on this, please click the Summary Checklist link, above. The form to complete this list may be found in the Application Forms link above.
Proof of Worker's Compensation and Disability Insurance, including the name of the insurance carrier, the policy number, and the expiration date must be submitted when you apply for a permit and when you renew. Or, if exempt, a copy of Form CE-200 registered with the Worker's Compensation Board with the New York State-assigned Exemption Certificate Number.
A Power of Attorney is required if someone other than the business owner will be filing the application. An acceptable version of this form is available at the Application Forms link above. The person submitting the application on the applicant's behalf must also show a form of acceptable photo identification. All required affidavits must be notarized prior to submission. A representative of the applicant may only submit an application for the Mobile Food Vending Unit Permit. If the applicant also needs to submit an application for a new Mobile Food Vending License, then he /she must register for the Food Protection Course for Mobile Food Vendors, at the same time when submitting applications for both the Mobile Food Vending License and Mobile Food Vending Unit Permit in person. Only after the applicant passes the Food Protection Course for Mobile Food Vendors and receives his/her license can he/she schedule an inspection of their mobile food vending unit.
List of Permit Fees. More info
List of accepted payment methods. More info
- Personal Check (made payable to the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene)
- Certified Check (made payable to the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene)
- Check (Government Check: (made payable to the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene)
- Money Order (made payable to the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene)
Ready to Apply?
Steps to apply in person:
Complete application with supplemental forms must be submitted, in person, at one of the following two locations.
Pay the permit fee (if applicable) after the application for the Mobile Food Vending Unit Permit is reviewed and accepted. The DCWP Citywide Licensing Center will issue a receipt. Applicants may NOT operate with the receipt and must wait until their mobile food vending unit (cart or truck) passes an inspection to receive an inspection decal before they may operate.