Health311Search all NYC.gov websites
Print icon Print

Green Carts

New York City Green Carts are food carts and trucks that bring fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods to neighborhoods that have lacked access to fresh produce. Green Cart vendors must have a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (Health Department) valid mobile food vending license, and operators of the cart or truck must have a Health Department Green Cart (Fresh Fruits and Vegetables) permit.

Effective August 27, 2022, Green Carts may now offer additional healthy foods such as:

  • Whole, uncut raw fruits and vegetables such as whole carrots, bananas, apples and berries
  • Bottled drinking water
  • Plain nuts
  • Sliced or cut fruits and vegetables (if the food cart or truck has equipment to keep food cold and pre-packaged)

Permitted vendors can operate a cart within one borough in designated areas. Green Cart vendors also have to follow mobile food vending rules. As of August 27, 2022, Police Precincts 63 and 69 in Brooklyn were designated as new Green Cart areas by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene per the Rules of the City of New York Section 6.07(d).

NYC has made 1,000 Green Cart permits available: 350 for Brooklyn, 350 for the Bronx, 150 for Manhattan, 100 for Queens and 50 for Staten Island.

The waiting lists are now closed. To check your up-to-date position on a waiting list, use the Mobile Food Vendor Waiting List look-up tool.

Mobile Food Vending Units: Cleaning, Servicing and Storage

All mobile food vending units (pushcarts, trailers and vehicles) must operate out of a facility (commissary) permitted by the NYC Health Department, or another facility approved by the Health Department. Vendors must stored their units at a mobile food vending commissary when not in use. Units must be returned to the commissary at least once each day for cleaning and maintenance.

Mobile Food Vending Unit Permit holders must provide to the Health Department a Commissary Agreement at their pre-permit inspection. They must subsequently notify the Health Department within 10 days of any change in the agreement. Commissary operators must have a Non-Retail Food Establishment Permit.

Commissary operators are required to maintain a Daily Service Log that tracks every mobile food vending unit that is cleaned, serviced or stored at their facility. The log must include the dates and times each unit returns to and leaves from the commissary. It must be available to inspectors upon request.

Additional Resources