Restricted Area Mobile Food Vending Permit

This permit lets you sell food from a mobile unit on private property. The property must be in a commercially zoned area. You can also sell food on property under the jurisdiction of the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation. This permit is exempt from the statutory limits which apply to public street vending.

This permit type:

• Is exempt from the limits placed on public street vending.
• Does not require being on a waiting list.

This permit type does not authorize:

• Selling food at a street fair (see Temporary Food Service Establishment Permit).
• Selling food on city streets, but allows "off-street" food vending.

Examples of "outdoors on private property":

• A private commercial parking lot
• An outdoor shopping mall or strip
• A vacant fenced-in lot area
• The area within a gasoline station

The sidewalk in front of a store is considered public space and does not qualify.

• Important: You need a current Mobile Food Vending license from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
  Learn more about the Mobile Food Vending License.

• Contract or lease: You need a valid contract or lease with the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation or the private property owner where you will operate.
  NYC Department of Parks and Recreation

• Review requirements: Review the application and requirements for a Restricted Area Mobile Food Vending Permit.
  Application for a New Restricted Area Mobile Food Vending Permit (PDF)

• Frozen desserts: If you plan to make or sell frozen desserts, complete a separate Application for Permit form for the frozen dessert machine. The annual fee is $25.00.
  Learn more about Manufacturing of Frozen Desserts - Retail.

• Sales tax: Provide proof of a Certificate of Authority to Collect Sales Tax. The address on the Certificate must match your application address.
  Application for Registration as a Sales Tax Vendor (Certificate of Authority)

• OATH clearance: You need clearance from the New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) showing that there are no Health Code or New York City Administrative Code violations and for which outstanding fines are due. If the applicant is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company (LLC), the clearance must reflect the name of that entity. Payment of fines must be made before submitting a permit application. If you have fines, pay them at OATH, 66 John St., 10th floor, New York, NY 10038.

• OATH documentation: OATH will provide either:

  • A dated form statement showing no violations were found
  • An itemized billing statement and matching itemized receipt for payments made. Receipts that do not match the billing statement will not be accepted and must be reconciled at OATH. Proof that OATH staff conducted a search for outstanding violations and found none, or the combination of an itemized listing of your violations and a matching itemized receipt, must be dated within 30 days or submitting a license or permit renewal application.

• Operator list: Provide a list of who will operate the unit.

• Insurance: Submit proof of Workers' Compensation and Disability Insurance, including the name of the insurance carrier, the policy number and the expiration date. If exempt, submit a copy of Form CE-200 registered with the Workers' Compensation Board with the New York State-assigned Exemption Certificate Number. The proof must list the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene as the Certificate Holder.
  New York State Workers' Compensation

• Power of Attorney: If someone else files the application for you, provide a Power of Attorney form and their photo ID. All affidavits must be notarized. 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.
  Authority to Act Form (PDF)

Permit fees

• Processing (P) Permit: $200.00 for new and renewal applications
• Non-Processing (NP) Permit: $75.00 for new applications, $50.00 for renewals
• No fee: No fee if you have proof of honorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Services

Accepted payment methods

• Personal check
• Certified check
• Government check
• Money order

• Permit validity: All New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (Health Department) permits and licenses with expiration dates after March 13, 2020 are still valid. This is because of the COVID-19 emergency. This includes seasonal mobile food vending permits and licenses. It also includes seasonal bathing establishments and beaches with expiration dates on or after Oct. 31, 2019. We encourage you to renew your permit or license now.
• Compliance guide: The Health Department's easy-to-follow compliance guide can help mobile food vendors avoid violations. It also helps keep customers safe from foodborne illnesses. Download What Mobile Food Vendors Should Know (PDF). For other languages and more guidance, visit the Mobile Food Vendors page on the NYC Health site.
• Street vending rules: All mobile food vendors must follow the regulations about vending on restricted streets. Restrictions to Vending on NYC Streets (PDF)
• Food sourcing: Mobile food vending operators must get their food from a licensed commissary or other establishment licensed, permitted or regulated by a government agency.
• Renewal notice: About three months before your permit or license expires, you will get a renewal notice in the mail. The notice will provide the expiration date and instructions on how to renew.
• Other permits: This permit does not meet the requirements of other City and State agencies. You must apply for all other needed permits, licenses and authorizations. Not following all regulations, including those from other agencies, may result in the suspension of this permit until you provide proof of compliance.

• Submit application: Submit your complete application and supplemental forms in person at one of these locations (note: all required documentation must be submitted when filing your application, and partial or incomplete applications will not be accepted):

  NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)
  Citywide Licensing Center
  42 Broadway, Lobby
  New York, NY 10004

  NYC Small Business Support Center
  90-27 Sutphin Boulevard, 4th Floor
  Jamaica (Queens), NY 11435

• Pay permit fee: Pay the permit fee (if applicable) after your application is reviewed and accepted. You will get a receipt, but you cannot operate until your unit passes an inspection and gets an inspection decal.

• Make an appointment: You must make an appointment ahead of time. To schedule an appointment, email LicensingAppointments@dca.nyc.gov or call 212-436-0441. A DCWP Licensing Center representative will respond to your request within two business days.

• Health screening: A DCWP Licensing Center representative will call you within 24 hours of your scheduled appointment to conduct a health screening. You must pass this screening to enter the Licensing Center.

• Face covering: You must wear a face covering that covers your nose and mouth at all times while you are in the DCWP Licensing Center.

• Arrive alone: You must arrive alone for your appointment. Please be prompt and bring all needed paperwork. If you arrive late or your application is incomplete, your appointment may need to be rescheduled.

• Inspection appointment: After you submit your renewal documents and payment, you must call 212-676-1600 to schedule an appointment for your vending unit to be inspected.
  
  Please note: All permit holders must accompany their units to the inspection. You may not send anyone on your behalf.

• Read the packet: Please read the Mobile Food Vending packet before submitting your application. This packet includes:

  • A summary of important changes to the renewal process
  • The revised renewal application checklist
  • DOHMH forms and non-DOHMH Clearance Request forms updated with new information
    Mobile Food Vending Permit Renewal Packet (PDF)

• Submit application: At this time, the only way to renew your Mobile Food Vending License or Permit is by regular mail. Send the completed renewal application form, supporting documents (copies only) and fee (payable by check or money order only) by regular mail to:
  
  DOHMH ELP
  P.O. BOX 22137
  New York, NY 10087-2137

  If you have not received your renewal application, you may request a copy via email at MFVLicenseHelp@health.nyc.gov or call 311 and request a copy.

  Special note: If you are updating your mailing address with your license/permit renewal application and you also have another MFV license/permit to renew later, write the other record number next to the record number on the renewal notice. This helps Licensing Center staff update your address for both records.

  You can follow up on the status of your application by sending an email to MFVLicenseHelp@health.nyc.gov. Please allow two weeks for processing before inquiring.