Mobile Food Vending Unit Permit (Full-Term)

Those interested in obtaining a Two-Year, Full-Term, Mobile Food Vending (MFV) Permit may apply for one only when contacted by DOHMH from one of the several categories of waiting lists established for this purpose.

If your name is pulled from a waitlist, you will be mailed a MFV permit application packet with forms and instructions for applying.

All applicants for a new two-year full-term MFV permit must have a mobile food vending supervisory license. Supervisory licenses are only offered to applicants on the current mobile food vending supervisory license waitlist.

LEARN MORE

Proof of a Certificate of Authority to Collect Sales Tax. The address on the Certificate must match that of the applicant or establishment for which an application is being submitted. It is recommended that you begin the process to apply for an Authority to Collect Sales Tax in advance of applying for a permit because it may take several weeks to obtain the certificate.

LEARN MORE

Proof of Worker's Compensation and Disability Insurance, including the name of the insurance carrier, the policy number, and the expiration date must be submitted when you apply for a permit and when you renew.

If you are exempt from having this insurance because you do not have any employees, obtain, complete and submit a copy of Form CE-200 stamped by the Worker's Compensation Board with the New York State-assigned Exemption Certificate Number. The certificate must list the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene as the Certificate Holder.

It is recommended that you begin the process to apply for insurance in advance of applying for a permit because it may take several weeks to obtain the coverage.

Workers' Compensation Insurance and Disability Benefits Insurance

New York City Environmental Control Board Clearance is required to determine that there are no Health Code or New York City Administrative Code violations issued to the applicant and for which outstanding fines are due. If the applicant is a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company (LLC), the clearance must reflect the corporate, partnership or LLC name. Payment of any outstanding fines may be made in person at the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Citywide Licensing Center, located at the address below, or by visiting the Environmental Control Board, located at 66 John Street, 10th floor, New York, New York 10038. The application form for this clearance may will be included in the permit application packet.

OATH Help Center and Small Biz Help Unit

Mobile food vending operators must obtain their food from a commissary or other establishment licensed, permitted or regulated by a government agency. If you wish to use an alternative location, you must obtain approval from the NYC Health Department. The form will be in your application packet.

The applicant for a full-term, two-year permit will be asked to submit a sworn affidavit indicating that he or she does not already possess a permit to operate on public space and is not part of a business entity which already possesses a permit to operate on public space. The form will be included in your application packet.

Evidence of Qualification is required of those individuals contacted from the waiting lists for disabled veterans, disabled persons, or non-disabled veterans. Information about this requirement will be found in the application packet.

There is no permit fee if the applicant presents proof of honorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Services in the form of a New York State Peddler's Certificate or Form DD-214 (discharge document) from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This benefit is also available to a surviving spouse or domestic partner of a veteran with this proof.

If you plan to manufacture or sell frozen desserts on your truck or cart, you must also apply for a Manufacturing Frozen Dessert Permit. This permit is issued for the frozen desert machine, not for the pushcart or truck.

A Power of Attorney is required if someone other than the business owner will be filing the application. An acceptable version of this form can be found in your application packet.

• The person submitting the application on the applicant's behalf must also show a form of acceptable photo identification
• All required affidavits must be notarized prior to submission
• A representative of the applicant may only submit an application for the Mobile Food Vending Unit Permit.
• The permit holder/permit applicant must bring the cart or truck for its inspection in person; you may not send a representative for the permit inspection.

List of Permit Fees.

• $200.00: Full-term (2 year) permit fee (check or money order) for units in which food is prepared or processed on-site.
• $0 on issuance; $438 every two years.
• $75.00 *: Full-term (2 year) permit fee (check or money order) for units in which food is pre-packaged or does not involve preparation or processing on-site.
• $35.00: Seasonal (April 1 - October 31) permit fee (check or money order) for units in which food is prepared or processed on-site.
• $15.00: Seasonal (April 1 - October 31) permit fee (check or money order) for units in which food is pre-packaged or does not involve preparation or processing on-site.
• No fee for an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Armed Services or the surviving spouse or domestic partner of such veteran, regardless of the type of food sold. (Permit Code H03 or H06)
• $53.00: Fee for Mobile Food Vendor Food Protection Course (certified check, government check or money order only). Payment for the course must be submitted separately from the payment for the permit application or any violations of the Health Code or Administrative Code.
• Payment for Health Code or Administrative Code Violation(s), if any (certified check or money order only). Payment for any violations must be submitted separately from the payment for the permit application or for the Food Protection Course, and made payable to the Environmental Control Board.

* The initial application fee of $75.00 covers the first two-year permit cycle. Every subsequent two-year permit cycle thereafter is $50.00.

List of accepted payment methods.

• Personal Check (made payable to the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene)
• Certified Check (made payable to the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene)
• Check (Government Check: (made payable to the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene)
• Money Order (made payable to the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene)
• Credit and Debit cards

Beginning one week after the applicant submits the application and is issued a receipt, he / she should call the Bureau of Food Safety & Community Sanitation at 212-676-1600 to schedule an appointment to have the mobile food vending unit inspected. The New York City Administrative Code requires that all mobile food vending units pass an inspection within six (6) months of the date an application is submitted or the application becomes void. All potential permit holders must appear in person at the inspection, you cannot send any representative on your behalf.

The Health Department's easy-to-follow compliance guide can help mobile food vendors avoid violations and keep customers safe from foodborne illnesses. Download What Mobile Food Vendors Should Know (PDF). For other languages and Additional Operating Guidance click here.

All mobile food vendors must obey the regulations regarding vending on restricted streets.

Restricted Streets

Mobile food vending operators must obtain their food from a licensed commissary or other establishment licensed, permitted or regulated by a government agency.

You may only apply for this permit if you have been contacted by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Instructions will be given to you when contacted.

You may only apply for this permit if you have been contacted by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Instructions will be given to you when contacted.

General Information About Mobile Food Vending Permits

You may only apply for this permit if you have been contacted by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Instructions will be given to you when contacted.

You will receive instructions on how to renew your permit when you receive your renewal package in the mail 90 days before your permit expires.

Note: if you applied separately for a manufacturing frozen desserts permit, you may have different renewal dates and will receive a separate renewal notices.

You will receive instructions on how to renew your permit when you receive your renewal package in the mail 90 days before your permit expires.

Note: if you applied separately for a manufacturing frozen desserts permit, you may have different renewal dates and will receive a separate renewal notices.

You will receive instructions on how to renew your permit when you receive your renewal package in the mail 90 days before your permit expires.

Note: if you applied separately for a manufacturing frozen desserts permit, you may have different renewal dates and will receive a separate renewal notices.