Sightseeing Bus License

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

• Sole proprietors operating under a name other than your own must have a Business/Assumed Name Certificate.
• Partnerships must have a Partnership Certificate and, if applicable, an Assumed Name Certificate for your business.
• Corporations, Limited Partnerships, Limited Liability Companies, or Limited Liability Partnerships must register and remain active with the New York State Division of Corporations. You can check your status at www.dos.ny.gov/corps.

Complete the Basic License Application.

The Basic License Application requires business information, including applicable identification numbers (such as EIN, SSN, or ITIN); contact information for the business location and business owner, history of criminal and / or civil charges for the business owners, partners, shareholders, and officers; and any DCWP license history for individuals named on the application and their relatives.

Basic License Application Form

Complete Roster of Sightseeing Buses and Request for Inspection.

Roster of Sightseeing Buses and Request for Inspection

Submit a copy of New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) or New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, (DMV) Inspection Certificate for Each Bus Listed on Roster. The Inspection Certificate must indicate either:

• that each bus on your Roster passed inspection by DOT within the last six months; OR
• (if DOT determines that a DOT inspection is not required) that each bus on your Roster passed inspection by DMV within the last year.

Submit a copy of the current Vehicle Registration issued by a state Department of Motor Vehicles for each vehicle listed on the Roster of Vehicles.

Submit a rate schedule listing all rates to be charged for sightseeing bus services. The rate schedule must be on your business' letterhead.

Completed the Engine Conformity Affirmation form.

Engine Conformity Affirmation

Submit a copy of the Certificate of Conformity from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for each engine family.

Submit an original letter from the engine manufacturer stating the engine serial number and specifying the engine family for each sightseeing bus.

Submit a completed Local Law 41: DEP Monthly Reporting Form

Submit a Compliance Affirmation.

Submit a Bus Stop Affirmation. For information about on-street bus stops, contact the NYC Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) General Permits Office at (646) 892-1242.

Submit a copy of each NYC DOT Authorized Sightseeing Bus Stop Permit, if applicable. For questions about permits, contact the NYC DOT General Permits Office at (646) 892-1242.

If the license application will be filed by someone other than the applicant, complete the Granting Authority to Act Affirmation.

Granting Authority to Act

List of Fees.

• $100: License Fee per sightseeing bus for applicants who file for a new Sightseeing Bus License from April 1 of years that end in an even number to September 30 of years that end in an even number.
• $75: License Fee per sightseeing bus for applicants who file for a new Sightseeing Bus License from October 1 of years that end in an even number to March 31 of years that end in an odd number.
• $50: License Fee per sightseeing bus for applicants who file for a Sightseeing Bus License from April 1 of years that end in an odd number to September 30 of years that end in an odd number.
• $25: License Fee per sightseeing bus for applicants who file for a new Sightseeing Bus License from October 1 of years that end in an odd number to March 31 of years that end in an even number.
• Non-Refundable Convenience Fee for paying with a credit card.

List of accepted payment methods.

• Check (Payable to NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, accepted only for in person application submissions.)
• Money Order (Payable to NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, accepted only for in person application submissions.)
• Credit card including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover Card.

By law, DCWP must inspect all licensed sightseeing buses. DCWP will contact you by email to schedule an appointment. If you fail to produce all of your licensed sightseeing buses for inspection, your company’s Sightseeing Bus License may be subject to revocation or suspension. Please contact DCWP’s Business Compliance Counsel at BCC@dcwp.nyc.gov with any questions about DCWP’s inspection process.

Within two weeks of DCWP receiving all required materials, applicants will receive one of the following notifications by mail with the status of their license application.
- If the application is approved, DCWP will issue the applicant a license document.
- If the application requires additional information, DCWP will notify the applicant by mail with instructions on how to submit this information. If the applicant does not submit the requested materials to DCWP within 10 days of receiving this notification letter, the application will be denied.
- If the application is denied, DCWP will provide an explanation for the denial and information about the reapplication process.

Licenses are valid for up to two years and expire on March 31 of years that end in an even number.

If any of the information submitted in the approved application changes, the licensee must inform DCWP of those changes by calling 311 or by visiting the DCWP Licensing Center or NYC Small Business Support Center. DCWP recommends that licensees call 311 to confirm that they need to go to a Center for any specific change. You must schedule an appointment to visit in person. View flyer to learn how to schedule an appointment.

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Licensed sightseeing buses must be inspected at least once every four months. By law, DCWP must inspect all licensed sightseeing buses. DCWP will contact you by email to schedule an appointment. If you fail to produce all of your licensed sightseeing buses for inspection, your company’s Sightseeing Bus License may be subject to revocation or suspension. Please contact DCWP’s Business Compliance Counsel at BCC@dcwp.nyc.gov with any questions about DCWP’s inspection process.

Any updates to rate schedules must be submitted in writing to DCWP. After approval, new rates may go into effect.

contact-info

NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)

Licensing Center

42 Broadway, Lobby

New York

NY

10004

onlineappsdocs@dcwp.nyc.gov

You must submit Sightseeing Bus Accident and/or Driver Offense Report within three (3) business days of any sightseeing bus accident or traffic violation that could be the basis for an assignment of points. You must also submit this report as soon as practicable if any driver employed by you is charged with any alcohol or drug-related offense or any criminal offense involving the operation of a motor vehicle.

All laws and rules of the City of New York, including the Consumer Protection Law and Rules, are available through the PUBLIC ACCESS PORTAL.

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.

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Apply Online

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.

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

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.

Before the license expires, DCWP will mail a license renewal application and instructions to the licensee. If the licensee plans to continue operating, the licensee must submit their renewal application at least 15 days before the license expires.

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Renew Online

Before the license expires, DCWP will mail a license renewal application and instructions to the licensee. If the licensee plans to continue operating, the licensee must submit their renewal application, required documents, and fees at least 15 days before the license expires. Licensee must 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.

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Before the license expires, DCWP will mail a license renewal application and instructions to the licensee. If the licensee plans to continue operating, the licensee must submit their renewal application, required documents, and fees at least 15 days before the license expires. Licensee can mail materials using the orange return envelope to the DCWP Licensing Center.

contact-info

NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)

Licensing Center

42 Broadway, Lobby

New York

NY

10004

onlineappsdocs@dcwp.nyc.gov