STORAGE WAREHOUSE (120)

License Application Checklist

DCA Licensing Center
42 Broadway, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10004
For more information, call 311.

A person or business must have a Storage Warehouse license if storing consumers' goods for compensation. The self-storage industry is exempt. Note: Licensees are required to comply with all relevant laws and rules, including the Consumer Protection Law. To get a copy of the actual law explaining whether or not you need a license for this category, call 311 or come in person to the DCA Licensing Center in Manhattan at the address above.

Below are the requirements for a Storage Warehouse license. All required documents must be submitted when filing your application. Applications must be filed in person at the DCA Licensing Center, 42 Broadway, 5th floor, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and on Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. To speed processing, please submit documents in the order listed below.

• Basic License Application (download).

*ATTENTION NEW LICENSE APPLICANT: Learn how to fill out DCA's new online application form.

• For Sole Proprietorships, submit a notarized copy of your Business Certificate. The County Clerk of the borough in which your business is located must certify this certificate. The address appearing on your Business Certificate must be identical to the address for which you are seeking a license. If you are a sole proprietor doing business under your own name, and not a trade or Doing Business As (DBA) name, you do not need a Business Certificate.

• For Partnerships, submit a notarized copy of your Partnership Certificate. The County Clerk of the borough in which your business is located must certify this certificate. The address appearing on your Partnership Certificate must be identical to the address for which you are seeking a license.

• For Corporations, submit a stamped Certificate of Incorporation or a filing receipt. If applicable, you must also submit your corporation's Assumed Name Certificate. These certificates must be stamped by the New York State Secretary of State. For more information, contact the Secretary of State's Division of Corporations at (518) 473-2492. 

If your business is an out-of-state corporation, you must obtain a Certificate of Doing Business in Good Standing from your home state’s Secretary of State and file this with an application for Authority to Conduct Business in New York with the New York State Secretary of State. A filing receipt from the New York State Secretary of State will be accepted as proof.

• Photo ID of the person submitting the application. Acceptable identification includes:

Note: If this application will be filed by someone other than an owner, partner or corporate officer, the person filing the application must submit an original, notarized Affidavit Granting Authority to Act (download) together with one of the above acceptable forms of ID.

• Schedule of all rates to be charged for the storage and handling of property. Note that rates or charges not included on this schedule may not be charged at a future date. To change rates after filing this application, you must notify the Department of Consumer Affairs in writing.

• Sales Tax Identification Number. This is the 9-digit number on your New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Certificate of Authority. You must enter this number on the Basic License Application form. Applications for a Sales Tax Identification Number are available at the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance office at 55 Hanson Place, Brooklyn, NY or call (800) 462-8100. In addition to the tax form, you can ask for Publication 750 (A Guide to Sales Tax in New York State). Allow four to six weeks after applying to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance to receive your Certificate of Authority.

• Certificate of Occupancy must be submitted with the original certified stamp dated within the last two years by the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) showing approval for "Use Group 16" or "Storage Warehouse." You may submit a "No Objection" letter from DOB if deemed appropriate by DOB. If the premise for which you are currently applying for was previously licensed by the Department of Consumer Affairs as a Storage Warehouse, you do not need to submit a new Certificate of Occupancy, as long as (1) the Use Group has not changed, and (2) the previous Certificate of Occupancy has been stamped certified by DOB within the past two years.

• Samples of all contracts that will be used in your business. Each of these contracts must include the following statements:

• Original $10,000 Third Party Bond. This must be properly signed and notarized and must name the Department of Consumer Affairs as the Certificate Holder. You must also submit a bond receipt showing that the bond has been paid in full and does not expire before the end of the licensing period. For a list of bonding companies in the area, click here.
  
  
• Copy of liability insurance policy providing consumers with protection against loss or damage due to your negligence. Such insurance must conform to all requirements of the Storage Warehouse Law, Section 20-480 (B32-536) and regulations. The policy must name the Department of Consumer Affairs as the certificate holder and include a 30-day cancellation clause stating that DCA will be notified if the policy is cancelled.
  
  
• If your business is a SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP or a PARTNERSHIP, the proprietor and each partner must submit a Notarized Child Support Certification form (download).
  
  
• License Fee. Must be paid by check or money order payable to NYC Department of Consumer Affairs. The chart below lists the amount due depending upon when your license application is filed. Note: An odd year is any year ending in an odd digit; for example, 2005, 2007, etc. An even year is any year ending in an even digit; for example, 2006, 2008, etc.