General Vendor License

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You must have a General Vendor License to sell, lease, or offer to sell or lease goods or services in a public place that is not a store.

You can apply for a General Vendor License if:

  • You're a veteran or surviving spouse or domestic partner of a veteran and you live in New York State. See license application requirements.
  • The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) contacts you with a waiting list number. 

You don't need a General Vendor License to sell:

  • Newspapers, periodicals, books, pamphlets, or other written matter
  • Artwork, including paintings, photographs, prints, and sculptures
  • Food
  • Items at a garage sale on private property
  • Merchandise from a booth or stand at a street fair, block party, or festival
  • Christmas trees on public sidewalks during December (you can't block the sidewalk and need the owner's permission if you're in front of a business)
  • Plants and flowers on public sidewalks on the day of the Asian Lunar New Year and during the seven days before it (you can't block the sidewalk and need the owner's permission if you're in front of a business)

City rules and regulations apply.

Fee

The fee for the full one-year license term is $200 for non-veterans.

Eligible veterans and the surviving spouses or domestic partners of eligible veterans who reside in New York State don't need to pay a license fee.

Expiration Date

The license expires on September 30 each year.

Eligible veterans and the surviving spouses or domestic partners of eligible veterans who live in New York State can apply for a General Vendor License. The number of licenses issued to non-veterans is limited by law to 853.

Non-veterans who want a license can apply to be on a waiting list only during specific application periods. Currently, the waiting list is closed and won't reopen until the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) has run through the current pool of non-veteran applicants. The deadline to apply for the last application period was November 15, 2016.

 If you applied by the application deadline:

  • DCWP will notify you in writing of your waiting list number. You don't need to do anything further at this time.
  • DCWP will notify you in writing if you are determined, based on your position on the waiting list, to be eligible to apply for a General Vendor License. DCWP will mail a notice with instructions to your most recently provided contact address

More information about the waiting list is available by phone.

  • Agency: Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
  • Division: General Vendor Special Application
  • Phone Number: (212) 487-4075
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 4 PM

Apply Online

To apply online, you need a Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) account.

Log in or register for a DCWP account.

Apply in Person

You can submit your application in person. An appointment is required.

Download the application on the DCWP license page.

Call 311 or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675) to request a copy.

You can schedule an appointment at:

  • DCWP Licensing Center
    42 Broadway
    New York, NY 10004
    Mon - Thu: 8 AM - 4 PM; last appointment at 3:30 PM
     
  • NYC Small Business Support Center
    90-27 Sutphin Boulevard, 4th Floor
    Jamaica, NY 11435
    Mon - Thu: 8 AM - 4 PM; last appointment at 3:30 PM

Schedule by Email

LicensingAppointments@dcwp.nyc.gov

Schedule by Phone

  • Agency: Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
  • Division: Licensing Appointment Line
  • Phone Number: (212) 436-0441
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 4 PM

About three months before your license expires, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) will mail you a renewal package.

Once your license expires, you are considered unlicensed. You may get penalties if you continue to operate. If you don’t renew within 59 days of expiration, you will have to reapply.

Renew Online

To renew online, you need to have a DCWP online account and a Personal Identification Number (PIN). The PIN is required to link information about your DCWP records to your online account.

Log in or register for a DCWP account.

Renew by Mail

Mail your application and required documents to:

DCWP Licensing Center
42 Broadway
New York, NY 10004

Renew in Person

You can submit your application in person. An appointment is required.

You can schedule an appointment at:

  • DCWP Licensing Center
    42 Broadway
    New York, NY 10004
    Mon - Thu: 8 AM - 4 PM; last appointment at 3:30 PM
     
  • NYC Small Business Support Center
    90-27 Sutphin Boulevard, 4th Floor
    Jamaica, NY 11435
    Mon - Thu: 8 AM - 4 PM; last appointment at 3:30 PM

Schedule by Email

LicensingAppointments@dcwp.nyc.gov

Schedule by Phone

  • Agency: Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
  • Division: Licensing Appointment Line
  • Phone Number: (212) 436-0441
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 4 PM

You can check the status of your application online or by contacting DCWP.

Online

Check application status.

By Email

Onlineappsdocs@dcwp.nyc.gov

By Phone

  • Agency: Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
  • Division: General Vendor Special Application
  • Phone Number: (212) 487-4075
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 4 PM

Online

Business Toolbox

With the DCWP Business Toolbox, you can learn about:

  • Laws you need to know and obey
  • Other licenses you might need
  • What DCWP inspectors look for in your industry and avoid violations
  • How to handle consumer complaints

You can also download:

  • Required signs
  • Checklists
  • Publications, tips, and FAQs
  • Model contracts and receipts
  • Other templates

Go to the DCWP Business Toolbox.

DCWP Account

With a DCWP online account, you can:

  • Apply for or renew a license
  • Submit more documents for your license application (if you applied in person)
  • Track your application
  • Pay fines and fees
  • Resolve DCWP violations
  • Access your DCWP records
  • Update your business information, such as:
    • Your name or business name
    • Contact information
    • Corporate officer
  • Request license replacements
  • Request an inspection
  • Ask a question about workplace law

Log in or register for a DCWP account.

In Person

You can get help at the DCWP Licensing Center and NYC Small Business Support Center. An appointment is required.

You can schedule an appointment at:

  • DCWP Licensing Center
    42 Broadway
    New York, NY 10004
    Mon - Thu: 8 AM - 4 PM; last appointment at 3:30 PM
     
  • NYC Small Business Support Center
    90-27 Sutphin Boulevard, 4th Floor
    Jamaica, NY 11435
    Mon - Thu: 8 AM - 4 PM; last appointment at 3:30 PM

Schedule by Email

LicensingAppointments@dcwp.nyc.gov

Schedule by Phone

  • Agency: Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
  • Division: Licensing Appointment Line
  • Phone Number: (212) 436-0441
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 4 PM

Visit the following pages for help with:

If you have license-specific questions or concerns, you can contact or visit DCWP.

By Email

Onlineappsdocs@dcwp.nyc.gov

By Phone

  • Agency: Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
  • Division: General Vendor Special Application
  • Phone Number: (212) 487-4075
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 4 PM

In Person

You can get help at the DCWP Licensing Center and NYC Small Business Support Center. An appointment is required.

You can schedule an appointment at:

  • DCWP Licensing Center
    42 Broadway
    New York, NY 10004
    Mon - Thu: 8 AM - 4 PM; last appointment at 3:30 PM
     
  • NYC Small Business Support Center
    90-27 Sutphin Boulevard, 4th Floor
    Jamaica, NY 11435
    Mon - Thu: 8 AM - 4 PM; last appointment at 3:30 PM

Schedule by Email

LicensingAppointments@dcwp.nyc.gov

Schedule by Phone

  • Agency: Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
  • Division: Licensing Appointment Line
  • Phone Number: (212) 436-0441
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 4 PM

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