Does my business need to apply for a license in person?
First-time applicants for 21 DCA licenses can submit applications online. Please check the Licenses Web page for more information as well as updates on expansion of this online service. In the meantime, applicants for industries not offered through the online service will need to submit license paperwork in person at the DCA Licensing Center, located at 42 Broadway, 5th Floor, in Lower Manhattan.

Does my business need to complete all required forms in order to process my application?
Yes. Before applying for a license, please be sure to read the requirements on the application and download/print all required forms for the category.

Can someone other than the business owner or partner apply for a license on the company’s behalf?
Yes. In many license categories, if someone other than the owner, a partner, or corporate officer of the business will be filing the license application, a completed “Granting Authority to Act Form” is needed. Click here to download the form. Some license categories require the individuals listed on the application to appear in person, to submit fingerprints, or take exams. Be sure to call 311 or check the license requirements to know for sure.

Does my business need a Federal Employer Identification number (EIN)?
An EIN is required for most businesses; only sole proprietors with no employees are not required to have an EIN. (Sole Proprietors can use a Social Security Number as an EIN.) Click here for information on how to obtain an EIN.

Does my business have to report child support payments?
If your business is a SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP or GENERAL or LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, the proprietor or each individual general partner must submit a Child Support Certification Form when applying for a license. Click here to download the form.

How long does it take to process an application?
In some business categories, if all requirements are in order, your license will be processed immediately at the DCA Licensing Center. You should receive your license in about two weeks. For some applications requiring inspections or approvals from other City agencies, such as the Buildings, Fire, or Transportation Departments, or those requiring a DCA qualifying examination, or requiring a fingerprint check, approval can take from two weeks to several months.

You should begin preparing your application well before the date you wish to start any licensed activity. No provisional licenses will be issued. No required documents will be waived.

How can my business apply for a license?
Please check the Licenses Web page for a list of industries that require a DCA license. Each industry will have its own description page outlining the application filing process and requirements. Online application submission is available to first-time license applicants in 21 industries. This online service will be expanded to include additional industries.

Applicants may call 311 or come in person to the DCA Licensing Center, located at 42 Broadway, 5th Floor, in Lower Manhattan to request an application packet. The application will have a cover sheet that explains in detail exactly what documents you must submit with your application, and where to obtain them. If you pick up your application in person, a DCA Licensing Center staffer will review each requirement listed on the cover sheet with you. Be sure to ask questions if you do not understand the application process.

How can my business renew a license?
Businesses can renew their licenses  online or by mail in many categories. In other cases, licensees must visit the DCA Licensing Center, located at 42 Broadway, 5th Floor, in Lower Manhattan.

How can my business pay a fee?
DCA accepts payment by check, money order, and credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover Card for payments of $5,000 or less). Please note: The fingerprints processing fee and Environmental Control Board (ECB) fines must be paid by money order or certified check. Call 311 (or 212-NEW-YORK outside NYC) for more information.

How can my business obtain a Certificate of Approval from the DCA Bureau of Weights and Measures?
A Certificate of Approval is required for the Scale Dealer/Repairer license. Any person or business dealing in, trading in, selling, receiving, or repairing condemned, rebuilt, or used weighing or measuring devices requires a Scale Dealer/Repairer license. To obtain a Certificate of Approval for your testing equipment (e.g., weight kit), please visit the DCA Bureau of Weights and Measures Testing Station at 245 Meserole Avenue in Brooklyn. Please call (718) 349-0472 to schedule an inspection between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on weekdays.

Does the City offer certification for minority- or woman-owned businesses?
The NYC Department of Small Business Services’ (SBS) Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) Program is designed to make it easy for purchasers at public agencies and private companies to identify New York City certified minority- and women-owned businesses that sell the goods and services they are looking to buy. Click here to register or to find out more about the program.