Food Service Establishment Permit

If you applied online, you will receive a receipt via e-mail. If you applied in person, the DCWP will give you a receipt.

You may begin to operate 22 days after you submit your permit application, whether or not you have been issued a permit. 

The NYC Health Department will conduct an unannounced pre-permit inspection after you open.

The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will process the application and will contact the applicant for any additional information or documentation required to process the application.

Applicants can check the status of an online application by signing into the Health Department online permitting system and selecting Search Applications, or by calling 311 and asking for status of a Health Department permit application.

The Department of Health and Mental hygiene will conduct a Pre-Permit Inspection to ensure that the food service establishment meets New York City standards. If the applicant passes inspection, DOHMH will mail the applicant a printed license. If the applicant fails the inspection, the inspector will provide the applicant a list of deficiencies that must be fixed. The applicant must then schedule another inspection. If the applicant passes, their permit will be mailed to the establishment address.

Read about your rights as the owner of a New York City food service establishment.