Note: New York City businesses must comply with all relevant federal, state, and City laws and rules. All laws and rules of the City of New York, including the Consumer Protection Law and Rules, are accessible using the Public Access Portal. For convenience, sections of the New York City Licensing Law (and Rules, if enacted) are available as a downloadable handout. The Law (and Rules) are current as of January 2009.

Please note that businesses are responsible for knowing and complying with the most current laws, including any City Council amendments. The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) is not responsible for errors or omissions in the handout. The information is not legal advice. You can only obtain legal advice from a lawyer.

Before You File Your DCA Permit Application:
To sell merchandise or offer a service at a Street Fair, you must make arrangements directly with the Street Fair’s sponsoring organization. For a current list of Street Fairs registered with the Mayor’s Street Activity Permit Office, contact the DCA Licensing Center at the address above. The list is updated monthly and includes information on the location, date, sponsoring organization name, and contact information. If you already know how to reach the sponsors of the Street Fair(s) at which you plan to vend, you do not need to contact the Mayor’s Street Activity Permit Office.

After you have made arrangements with the sponsoring organizations of all of the Street Fairs at which you will vend for no longer than 30 days, complete the requirements below to submit your Temporary Street Fair Vendor Permit application to the Department of Consumer Affairs. You may apply for more than one Temporary Street Fair Vendor Permit at a time.

When You File Your DCA Permit Application:
Below are requirements when filing your permit application:

• Temporary Street Fair Vendor Permit Application   

NEW: Temporary Street Fair Vendor Permit applicants can now submit new permit applications online. Applying for the permit online does not mean the permit is automatically approved. A major credit card is required to submit applications online. Service fees apply. After reviewing application requirements, please click the Apply Online link at the bottom of this Web page to submit your application online.

For in-person application submission, applicants can download the Temporary Street Fair Vendor Permit Application (in PDF)

• Photo Identification (ID) of Permit Applicant
  Acceptable forms of ID include:
  
  • driver’s license or a non-driver’s license identification issued by a State Department of Motor Vehicles
  • license or permit issued by a government agency
  • passport
  • alien card/green card
  • a City, State, or Federal employee ID card 
    
    
• Current color passport-size photograph of Permit Applicant
  EXCEPTION: Applicants who have held a Temporary Street Fair Vendor Permit within the past two (2) years do not need to submit a photograph. 
  
  Permit Applicants can be photographed in the DCA Licensing Center at no cost. 
  
  Please note that you can upload an image file if you submit your permit application online. 
   
• Granting Authority to Act Form (download)
  If this application will be filed by someone other than the permit applicant, the person filing the application must submit a Granting Authority to Act Form. 
   
• Sales Tax Identification Number
  This is the 9, 10, or 11-digit number on your New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Certificate of Authority. You must enter this number on the Temporary Street Fair Vendor Permit application. To obtain an application for a Certificate of Authority, visit the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance online at www.nystax.gov or call toll-free (800) 698-2909. Allow four to six weeks after applying to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance to receive your Certificate of Authority.
   
• Child Support Certification Form (download)
   
• Permit Fee of $10 for each month
  For in-person application submissions, the Permit Fee must be paid by credit card, money order, or check. Cards accepted include Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover Card. Checks or money orders must be payable to NYC Department of Consumer Affairs.  
  
  Please note that service fees apply if you submit your permit application online. A major credit card is required to submit applications online.

APPLICATION FILING PROCESS: 

ONLINE SUBMISSION:
Please make sure that you have reviewed and recorded the information required to submit a permit application online before clicking the button below. Note: As outlined in the “When You File” section, applicants must submit a photograph. Please note that the image file you upload must be digital passport photo quality. A digital camera with a resolution of 1 mega-pixel will be more than adequate. If you do not upload the photograph as part of the application form submission, you must e-mail the photograph or visit the DCA Licensing Center to be photographed at no cost within five (5) business days after successfully filing the application form online. Applicants should follow instructions on the printed confirmation page. Your permit application will not be complete without this requirement.

You will be routed to the New York City Business Express Web site.

IN-PERSON SUBMISSION:
Applications may be filed in person or by mail at the DCA Licensing Center at the address above between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday.