GENERAL VENDOR (094)

DCA Licensing Center
42 Broadway, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10004
For more information, call 311 (or 212-NEW-YORK outside of New York City). 

You do NOT need a General Vendor license if:

• You sell newspapers, periodicals, books, pamphlets, or other written matter.
• You sell artwork, including paintings, photographs, prints, and sculptures.
• You sell food. Note: Food vending requires a license from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Call 311 or visit www.nyc.gov/health for information about food cart vendor licenses and permits.
• You will only sell merchandise from a booth or stand at an authorized Street Fair (e.g., street fair, block party, or festival). Please note that you must obtain a Temporary Street Fair Vendor Permit to sell merchandise at an authorized Street Fair.

This description is only a general explanation of which individuals need to have a General Vendor license.

Note: New York City businesses must comply with all relevant federal, state, and City laws and rules. All laws and rules of the City of New York, including the Consumer Protection Law and Rules, are accessible using the Public Access Portal. For convenience, sections of the New York City Licensing Law (and Rules, if enacted) are available as a downloadable handout. 

Please note that businesses are responsible for knowing and complying with the most current laws, including any City Council amendments. The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) is not responsible for errors or omissions in the handout. The information is not legal advice. You can only obtain legal advice from a lawyer.

When You File Your DCA License Application:
Below are requirements when filing your license application:

• Basic Individual License Application   

NEW: If you are an honorably discharged veteran or the surviving spouse or domestic partner of an honorably discharged veteran and reside in New York State, you can now submit new license applications online.  Applying for the license online does not mean the license is automatically approved. A major credit card is required to submit applications online. Convenience fees apply. After reviewing application requirements, please click the Apply Online link at the bottom of this Web page to submit your application online.

For in-person application submission, applicants can download the Basic Individual License Application (in PDF)

• Proof of Eligibility to Apply for a General Vendor License
  Currently, DCA only accepts applications for a General Vendor license from individuals who have an approved DCA waiting list number; honorably discharged veterans; or the surviving spouse or domestic partner of an honorably discharged veteran. Please submit ONE of the following documents as proof of your eligibility to apply for a General Vendor license:
  • An original letter issued by DCA indicating that you are eligible to submit an application for a General Vendor license
  • Proof of honorable discharge issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), such as:
    • original statement of service OR 
    • original DD 214 OR
    • member 4 copy of the DD 214

Contact information for the New York Regional Office is provided below.
245 West Houston Street
New York, NY 10014
Telephone: (800) 827-1000
Web site: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/

• • If you are the surviving spouse or domestic partner of a veteran, provide ALL of the following documents:
    • proof of marriage or domestic partnership (e.g., original marriage certificate, original certificate of domestic partnership, joint lease or mortgage documents). Please note that proof is subject to DCA’s review and approval. AND
    • original death certificate AND
    • ONE proof of honorable discharge (See above.)
      

• Proof of Service-Related Physical Disability
  If you are a veteran disabled by a service-related injury and would like to vend on a restricted street as described in §2-314 of Title 6 of the Rules of the City of New York, submit an original letter with a signature from Veterans Affairs confirming your service-related physical disability.
  
  
• One current color passport-size photograph of License Applicant
  License Applicants can be photographed in the DCA Licensing Center at no cost.
  
  
• General Vendor Questionnaire (download)
  
  
• General Vendor Residence Form (download)
  
  
• Certificate of Authority
  You must submit a copy of your New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Certificate of Authority showing your sales tax identification number.

To obtain an application for a Certificate of Authority, visit the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance online at www.nystax.gov or call toll-free (800) 698-2909. Allow four to six weeks after applying to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance to receive your Certificate of Authority.

• Proof of Home Address
  You must be a New York State resident. Submit a copy of ONE of the following documents as proof of home address:
  • utility bill, dated within the last 90 days (e.g., telephone, gas, electric, cable, or water) OR
  • current lease or deed OR
  • current rent or mortgage bill OR
  • driver’s license

If you live at another person’s address, provide:

• letter signed by the leaseholder indicating that you live at the address AND
• ONE proof of home address (per above) with the leaseholder’s name
  

• Proof of Tax Clearance
  If you are a New York State resident and an honorably discharged veteran who previously held a General Vendor license, submit a New York City Vendor Tax Clearance Certificate and a New York State Certificate of Tax Clearance. Clearance applications may be obtained at the DCA Licensing Center located at 42 Broadway, 5th floor, in lower Manhattan. Please note that fees apply.
  
  
• General Vendor Non-NYC Resident Form (download)
  If you are not a New York City resident, you must complete and submit the General Vendor Non-NYC Resident Form.
  
  
• Child Support Certification Form (download)
   
• Granting Authority to Act Affirmation (download)
  If this application will be filed by someone other than the license applicant, the license applicant must submit a Granting Authority to Act Affirmation. 
   
• License Fee
  For in-person application submissions, the License Fee must be paid by credit card, money order, or check. Cards accepted include Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover Card. Checks or money orders must be payable to NYC Department of Consumer Affairs. The chart below lists the amount due depending upon when your license application is filed.
  
  Note: Honorably discharged veterans and the surviving spouses or domestic partners of honorably discharged veterans who reside in New York State do not need to pay a license fee, but will be required to pay a $1 convenience fee if submitting the application online. A major credit card is required to submit applications online.

APPLICATION FILING PROCESS: 

ONLINE SUBMISSION:
Please make sure that you have reviewed and recorded the information required to submit a license application online before clicking the button below. Note: As outlined in the “When You File” section, applicants must submit the following supporting documents: Proof of Eligibility to Apply for a General Vendor License; Proof of Service-related Disability (if applicable); Photograph; General Vendor Questionnaire; General Vendor Residence Form; Certificate of Authority; Proof of Home Address; Proof of Tax clearance (if applicable), General Vendor Non-NYC Resident Form (if applicable), Child Support Certification Form and Granting Authority to Act Affirmation (if applicable). You must fax, e-mail, or bring documents to the DCA Licensing Center within five (5) business days after successfully filing the application form online. Please note that the image file you e-mail must be digital passport photo quality. A digital camera with a resolution of 1 mega-pixel will be more than adequate. Applicants can be photographed at no cost in the Licensing Center. Applicants should follow instructions on the printed confirmation page. Your license application will not be complete without these requirements.

You will be routed to NYC Business Express.

IN-PERSON SUBMISSION:
Applications may be filed in person at the DCA Licensing Center at the address above between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday.