City law authorizes the Department of Consumer Affairs to regulate certain businesses. Many businesses must hold a license from DCA to operate legally in New York City. All businesses are held responsible for complying with the City’s Consumer Protection, Weights and Measures, truth-in-pricing, and other laws designed to protect against unfair and deceptive business practices.

  Read a complete list of businesses that need
    a DCA license

Some businesses need licenses or permits from other City and State agencies.  The DCA Licensing Center administers permits on behalf of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene  (DOHMH).

  Download the list of businesses the DOHMH licenses.  

• Call 311 to be mailed an application for the DOHMH categories listed.
• Currently only the application for Food Establishments (which includes restaurants) is available as a download on the DOHMH Web site. 

 Green Carts Update
 Visit NYC DOHMH Web site

The Permit Assistance Unit of the New York State Governor’s Office of Regulatory Reform provides information on New York State business licensing requirements.

  Visit New York State's Online Permit Assistance
    and Licensing (OPAL) Web site
  Read a list of businesses requiring a license from
    New York State

For more information, call 311 (or 212-NEW-YORK outside NYC).