Opening a Restaurant

To open a restaurant in NYC, you need certain certificates, permits and licenses from various city and state agencies, including the Health Department.

• To see which type of permit and licenses you may need to apply for, visit our food service establishment permits page.
• For help opening your business, visit NYC Small Business Services Start a Business portal.
• To organize and maintain all of your NYC permits in one place, sign up for NYC Business.

Applying for a Health Department Permit/Designing a Restaurant

• Apply for a New Food Service Establishment Permit
• Suggested Guide to Food Establishment Design

Learn More About

• Required Signs for Restaurants
• The Inspection Process

More Resources

• Consultative Inspections for New Food Service Establishments (PDF)
  Other languages: 中文 | 한국어 | Español | Русский | Kreyòl ayisyen
• Learn more about food safety
• Best Management Practices (BMPS) for Non-Residential Direct and
  Indirect Dischargers of Grease to the Public Sewer System (PDF)
• Preventing Grease Discharges into Sewers (PDF)