Shared Kitchens

Shared Kitchens are commercial food preparation facilities where new food retailers can use kitchen space and equipment to grow their businesses. This helps them develop their skills and create products without the high cost of operating their own kitchen.

Shared Kitchen Operator

A Shared Kitchen Operator has a permit to operate a shared kitchen. They must:

• Maintain the kitchen, equipment, surroundings, water supply and waste handling, furnishings.
• Comply with Article 81 of the NYC Health Code and all other applicable federal, State and City laws, rules and regulations.

To run a shared kitchen, the operator needs a Non-Retail Food Processing Establishment permit from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Shared Kitchen Entrepreneur

A Shared Kitchen Entrepreneur wants to prepare food to sell but is not ready to open a restaurant or operate a commercial kitchen. They can rent space in a permitted shared kitchen.

To sell ready-to-eat food at street fairs or any type of catered event in New York City, the entrepreneur needs:

• A Food Protection Certificate.
• A Food Service Establishment (FSE) permit from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Another option is to rent space in a permitted restaurant's kitchen. The restaurant's operator would supervise the entrepreneur.

• Get a Non-Retail Food Processing Permit: If you want to run a Shared Kitchen, you need a Non-Retail Food Processing Permit.
  Learn more about the Non-Retail Food Processing Establishment Permit.

• Get the needed certificates and permits: If you plan to work in a Shared Kitchen, you need two things:

  • A Food Protection Certificate

  • A Food Service Establishment Permit Learn more about the Food Service Establishment Permit.