You must have a Seasonal (Temporary) Mobile Food Vending Permit to prepare and sell food or drinks from a pushcart or truck on a seasonal basis. This permit allows vendors to operate April 1 through October 31.

To apply for a permit, you must first apply to get on a waiting list. This waiting list is currently closed. If you are currently on a waiting list, you will be offered a permit as it becomes available.

Check your place on the mobile food vending waiting list.

You must have a Year-Round Mobile Food Vending Permit to prepare and sell food or drinks from a pushcart or truck year-round.

Local Law 18 of 2021 changed how mobile food vendors can get a new full-term (year-round) citywide or non-Manhattan Mobile Food Vending Permit. A supervisory license is now required to apply for these permits.

The Green Cart Permit waiting list is open for the Bronx, Brooklyn or Staten Island. Before you apply, make sure your mobile food vendor license is current. You can submit an application and learn more by visiting the Green Cart Permit page.

The Restricted Area Mobile Food Vending Permit allow for vending on private property or on Department of Parks and Recreation property under an agreement between the vendor and the property owner. You must submit your agreement at the time of application submission. This type of permit does not allow the unit to vend on the public sidewalk or street. There is no waiting list for this permit and no limit on the number of permits available.

Learn more about the Restricted Area Mobile Food Vending Permit.

Supervisory License 

A supervisory license allows vendors to apply for one permit. There are three types of supervisory licenses: a citywide license, a license for all NYC boroughs except Manhattan (non-Manhattan), and a citywide license for disabled people and U.S. Veterans. A supervisory license-permitted unit must have a supervisory license holder working on-site whenever the unit is operating. 

Local Law 18 of 2021 and Local Laws 54 and 59 of 2026 increase the mobile food vending cap over time by increasing the number of supervisory licenses: 

• From Fiscal Year 2023-2026, Local Law 18 of 2021 increased the cap each year by 445:  
  • 100 citywide supervisory licenses  
  • 300 for non-Manhattan supervisory licenses  
  • 45 citywide supervisory licenses for disabled people and U.S. veterans  
• From Fiscal Year 2027-2031, Local Laws 54 and 59 of 2026 will increase the cap each year by 2,200:  
  • 500 citywide supervisory licenses  
  • 1,500 non-Manhattan supervisory licenses  
  • 200 citywide supervisory licenses for disabled people and U.S. veterans 

These changes do not apply to MFV units with a temporary (seasonal) permit, green cart permit or restricted area permit. A supervisory license is not required for these units.  

• If you currently have a citywide or borough-specific permit that was issued before July 1, 2022, your unit will not require a supervisory license holder until July 1, 2031. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) will issue rules on this requirement at a later date. 

Learn about supervisory licenses, including eligibility requirements.

The waiting list for supervisory licenses for veterans and people with disabilities opened on March 13, 2026. Applications must be sent by email or mail and postmarked no later than April 28, 2026.

For the latest information on open waiting lists and applications, visit the DOHMH's permits and licenses page.

Until April 24, 2026, you can request an application to be mailed to you for the waiting list for supervisory licenses for veterans and people with disabilities.

For the latest information on open waiting lists and applications, visit DOHMH's permits and licenses page.

Several weeks before your permit expires, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) will mail you a renewal package.

To renew in person, you must bring your completed application to an appointment at the Citywide Licensing Center in Manhattan.

You can check the status of your application by phone.

Visit the following pages for help with:

• Online technical and payment issues
• Correcting violations

If you have permit-specific questions or concerns, you can get help by phone.

You can schedule a pre-permit inspection by phone.