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Street Vending Enforcement
DSNY is the coordinating agency for street vending enforcement. We are one of several agencies that provides community support, equitable enforcement, and access to resources for NYC street vendors.
Our partner agencies include Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), Environmental Protection (DEP), Transportation (DOT), Parks & Recreation (Parks), Small Business Services (SBS), Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA)
Learn more about enforcement for:
General Vendors
General vendors are those that sell, lease, or offer to sell or lease goods or services, excluding food, in a public place like a street or sidewalk. These can include specialized vendors. The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) issues licenses to general vendors.
Educational resources for general vendors
Get educational highlights and tips to help understand General Vendor Licensing Law regulations.
- Download educational highlights and tips for General Vendors in:
Learn more about applying for a general vendor license.
View the NYC General Vendor Street Restrictions Map.
Find the laws and rules applicable to general vendors:
- New York City Administrative Code | Title 20: Consumer and Worker Protection | Chapter 2: Licenses | Subchapter 27: General Vendors
- Rules of the City of New York | Title 6: Department of Consumer and Worker Protection | Chapter 2: Licenses | Subchapter AA: General Vendors
- Rules of the City of New York | Title 6: Department of Consumer and Worker Protection | Chapter 6: Administrative Hearings | Subchapter B: Penalties | § 6-68 General Vendor Penalty Schedule
- New York State General Business Law Article 4 Section 35-a Veterans of the armed forces who vend in cities having a population of one million or more
Mobile Food Vendors
A mobile food vendor is a person who sells food — or distributes it free of charge — from a mobile food vending unit in any public, private or restricted space. These can include specialized vendors.
A mobile food vending unit is a food service establishment within a pushcart or vehicle that is used to store, prepare, display, serve or sell food — or distribute it free of charge — for consumption in a place other than in or on the unit. Any such pushcart or vehicle is considered a mobile food vending unit, whether it's operated indoors or outdoors on public, private or restricted space.
The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) issues mobile food vending permits and licenses.
Educational resources for mobile food vendors
Get educational highlights and tips to help understand Mobile Food Vendor Licensing Law regulations.
- Download educational highlights and tips for Mobile Food Vendors in:
Learn more about applying for a mobile food vendor permits and licenses.
View the Mobile Food Vending Street Map.
Find the laws and rules applicable to mobile food vendors:
- New York City Administrative Code | Title 17: Health | Chapter 3: Licenses and Permits | Subchapter 2: Food Vendors
- Rules of the City of New York | Title 24: Department of Health and Mental Hygiene | Chapter 6: Mobile Food Vending
- Rules of the City of New York | Title 24: Department of Health and Mental Hygiene | New York City Health Code | Title IV: Environmental Sanitation | Part A: Food and Drugs | Article 89: Mobile Food Vending
Specialized Vendors
Specialized vendor licenses are for veterans with a service-related disability. Specialized vendors can be either general or mobile food vendors.
Specialized vendors who hold Citywide Specialized vending licenses (Yellow) or Midtown Core Zone vending licenses (Blue) can vend in certain restricted areas. If they operate in other locations, they must follow the regular restrictions that apply to all general and mobile food vendors.
Educational resources for specialized vendors
Get educational highlights and tips to help understand regulations to your specific licenses.
Learn more about specialized vendor licenses.
Vending Maps
General Vendor Street Restrictions Map
DCWP issues General Vendor licenses (White) and two specialized licenses (Yellow and Blue). This map highlights the street restrictions for licensed General Vendors.
View NYC General Vendor Street Restrictions Map.
NOTE: First Amendment vendors — those vendors who exclusively sell items covered by the First Amendment, including written materials (newspapers, periodicals, books, pamphlets) and artwork (paintings, photographs, prints, sculptures, face paintings, balloon animals) — must follow the same street restrictions as blue Specialized Licensees on the map.
Mobile Food Vending Streets Map
DOHMH issues Mobile Food Vendor licenses and permits. This interactive map shows where you are allowed to vend food from a cart or truck. It also provides information on specific location restrictions.
View the Mobile Food Vending Streets Map.
Complaints
Make a complaint about a vendor operating on City streets or sidewalks or at a street fair.