General Vendor License

A General Vendor license is required for anyone that will sell, lease, or offer to sell or lease goods or services in a public space that is not a store.

Please note: The maximum number of General Vendor Licenses that the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) issues to non-veterans is limited by law to 853. DCWP’s waiting list for non-veteran applicants is currently closed. The waiting list will not re-open for further registration until DCWP has run through the current list of non-veteran applicants. Only the following individuals may submit an application for a General Vendor License:

• an individual with a valid waiting list number issued by DCWP
• an honorably discharged veteran residing in New York State
• the surviving spouse or domestic partner of an honorably discharged veteran residing in New York State

A General Vendor license is not required for the following activities:

• selling newspapers, periodicals, books, pamphlets or other written material
• selling artwork including paintings, photographs, prints and sculptures
• selling food. Please note that food vending requires a license from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
• selling items at a garage sale on private property
• selling merchandise from a booth or stand at an authorized Street Fair (e.g., street fair, block party, or festival). Please note that a Temporary Street Fair Vendor Permit is required to sell merchandise at an authorized Street Fair.