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Licenses

*Important Updates Due to COVID-19*

Starting August 14, 2021, DCWP will review potentially abandoned newsstands to determine if they are not in use for two consecutive months and may take action on their licenses.

On June 24, 2021, New York’s COVID-19 State of Emergency expired and many New York Forward industry reopening guidance documents are no longer mandatory.

New York City’s Emergency Executive Orders (EEOs) that extended license expiration dates and renewal application deadlines because of the COVID-19 pandemic has ended. If your license was set to expire during the period from March 12, 2020 through August 14, 2021, your license will expire on August 14, 2021. Learn more about renewals.

On May 19, 2021, the State lifted indoor dining capacity in New York City, meaning restaurants can operate indoors at full capacity. As a result, starting August 17, 2021, restaurants cannot require customers to pay the COVID-19 Recovery Charge. DCWP will be updating materials to reflect the changes. Please check back soon. Read Frequently Asked Questions: COVID-19 Recovery Charge at Restaurants in:
English (Updated 7/12/2021)
Other Languages (10/2020): Español (Spanish) | العربية (Arabic) | বাংলা (Bengali) | 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified) | 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional) | Français (French) | Kreyòl Ayisyen (Haitian Creole) | 한국어 (Korean) | Język Polski (Polish) | Русский (Russian) | ردو (Urdu)

In-Person Licensing and Collections Services Available By Appointment Only. DCWP is accepting in-person visits from customers with appointments only at our Manhattan and Queens locations. You must schedule an appointment to meet with a DCWP representative. For health and safety reasons, DCWP cannot serve walk-ins. View flyer to learn how to schedule an appointment in English (Updated 07/26/2021)
Other Languages (4/28/2021): Español (Spanish) | العربية (Arabic) | বাংলা (Bengali) | 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified) | 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional) | Français (French) | Kreyòl Ayisyen (Haitian Creole) | 한국어 (Korean) | Język Polski (Polish) | Русский (Russian) | ردو (Urdu)

June 18, 2020: Per the Mayor’s Executive Order, certain laws and rules relating to sidewalk cafés have been suspended to administer the Open Restaurants Program. If you own a restaurant or bar, you must apply for Open Restaurants certification to offer outdoor dining service, even if you already have a license for an unenclosed sidewalk café or a small sidewalk café. Learn more including guidance on heating elements for outdoor dining setups at nyc.gov/openrestaurants.

Get DCWP Alerts and Information During COVID-19 Crisis, including workplace laws, price gouging, and scams and safety tips.

Street Vending in NYC

NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) is the coordinating agency for all street vending activity. Learn more about Street Vending in NYC.

Licensing Services

We license more than 59,000 businesses in more than 50 industries. You can access many of our licensing services online including:

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Learn about 10 Things Every Business Should Know Available in English, Español (Spanish), 中文 (Chinese), Kreyòl Ayisyen (Haitian Creole), 한국어 (Korean), and Русский (Russian)

Read additional tips for businesses

Do you have employees?
Learn about your employer responsibilities on workplace laws.

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Need to have your scales inspected?
Submit a request for a scale inspection online or call 311.

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New York City businesses must comply with all relevant federal, State, and City laws and rules. Visit our Laws webpage.

Find more information about opening or operating a business in New York City at nyc.gov/business.