Expand Licenses for Street Food and General Vendors
Enacted on Jul 31, 2026Signed into law by the Mayor.
Signed into Law
Local Law 2026/059
✦ Plain-Language Summary
This law increases the number of licenses available for street food vendors and general vendors (like those selling goods on sidewalks) in New York City. Starting in 2026, up to 2,200 new food vendor licenses will be made available each year through 2031, and up to 10,500 general vending licenses will be offered in 2027. This gives more vendors — many of whom are immigrants and small business owners — a legal pathway to work on NYC streets.
Details
- Introduced
- Apr 24, 2025
- Passed Council
- Jan 29, 2026
- Enacted
- Jan 29, 2026
- Body
- Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection
- Type
- Introduction
- Status
- Enacted
Official Description
Pursuant to Introduction 431-B, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) would make 2,200 supervisory license applications available to prospective mobile food vendors every year within a five-year period from 2026 through 2031, and the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) would make 10,500 general vending license applications available to prospective general vendors in 2027. However, not every license application released would result in a license issued, which means that there could be less licenses issued than are authorized. This bill would authorize DOHMH and DCWP to continue to issue more license applications until the licenses issued reaches the capped amount, provided there is a demand for it.