Green Cart Permit
The City of New York established the Green Cart Permit program to increase the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables in city neighborhoods.
The Green Cart permit allows individuals to operate a food cart for the sale of whole, raw fruits and vegetables, plain nuts and water, and pre-packaged sliced or cut fruits and vegetables, in designated areas of the city. Green Cart operators cannot cut, slice, peel or process fruits or vegetables on the cart. The number of Green Cart permits that may be issued is: 350 for the Bronx and Brooklyn; 150 for Manhattan; 100 for Queens; and 50 for Staten Island.
Before you can apply for any Green Cart permit, you must be on a waiting list. The waiting lists for Manhattan and Queens are closed.
The Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island waiting lists are now open. Vendors can apply to join one of those waiting lists at any time. You can submit the waitlist application online or call 311 to have the form mailed to you. You may not submit more than one waiting list application for a Green Cart permit.
The NYC Health Department will send you a permit application packet once your name has been reached on the waiting list. You will then have 60 days to return the completed application and materials.
If you are already on a waiting list, you may check your position here.
For updated information on the availability of mobile food vending permits, you can visit www.nyc.gov/health/mobilefood.
Anyone who applies for a Green Cart permit must have a Mobile Food Vending License.
List of Permit Fees.
- There is no fee to apply for a waiting list.
- Full-Term (2 year) Green Cart Permit application fee: $75.00
- There are no license or permit application fees for honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed Services who present a New York State Peddler's Certificate, or for the surviving spouse or domestic partner of a veteran with this certificate.
List of accepted payment methods.
- Personal Check (Made payable to the NYC DOHMH) - by mail in person
- Certified Check (Made payable to the NYC DOHMH) - by mail or in person
- Money Order (Made payable to the NYC DOHMH) - by mail or in person
- American Express - in person only
- Discover - in person only
- MasterCard - in person only
- Visa - in person only
Priority Groups
Local law gives priority to U.S. veterans and people with a disability when offering green cart permits. Priority is given in the following order:
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- U.S. veteran with a disability
- Person with a disability
- U.S. veteran
For detailed requirements for each priority, please go online to the NYC Health Department website.
The Health Department will contact you soon after submission of your Green Cart waiting list application to confirm placement on the waiting list. Everyone who meets the requirements will be placed on the list. Do not submit another application using the same individual or license number. Doing so will delay processing.
Once called from the waiting list, you will receive a paper permit application by mail.
You will have 6 months to submit your completed Green Cart application form
Note: Each applicant may only submit one waiting list application. Do not submit multiple applications using the same individual/license number. Doing so will delay processing.
Prepare to apply for a permit by obtaining the following:
Clearance Letter from Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) that you do not owe fines.
You must submit a zero balance Invoice Request Response form with your permit application. This is also known as a Clearance Letter. It may take up to four weeks to obtain this letter from OATH.
To request the letter, email your completed OATH Food Vendor Invoice Search Request Form to OATH at vendorinquiry@oath.nyc.gov.
You will receive an Invoice Request Response form returned to you. If you receive one with a list of outstanding fines that must be paid in full, you must pay and then get an updated Invoice Request Response form which shows you have a zero balance.
You can also reach the OATH customer service unit at 1-844-OATH-NYC (1-844-628-4692).
New York State Certificate of Sales Tax Authority or Sales Tax
You will need to submit this certificate with your permit application and enter the Certificate ID number on the permit application form.
If you don’t have one, you can get a new Sales Tax Certificate at www.businessexpress.ny.gov or request a replacement card by calling (518) 485-2889.
The certificate must have been issued within 90 days of when you applied for a Green Car permit.
Application for Registration as a Sales Tax Vendor (Certificate of Authority)
W orkers’ Compensation and Disability Insurance Coverage or Exemption Registration (Form CE-200)
You must get this insurance if you will have employees. If anyone else will work on your Green Cart, whether you will be there or not, those workers are your employees.
You will need to provide proof of insurance or a current exemption document and list them on the new permit application form and whenever you renew your permit.
Submit both proofs of insurance coverage effective when the business begins operation. Include the insurer’s name, policy number, and expiration date.
List the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene as the certificate holder (not the policy holder).
If you will operate your cart or truck yourself and no one else will work on the vending unit, then you will not have employees. You can then submit a Certificate of Attestation of Exemption (Form CE-200) registered with the NYS Workers’ Compensation Board showing the applicant’s registration number and the date registered. For more information and to get this form online, visit www.businessexpress.ny.gov.
Workers' Compensation Insurance and Disability Benefits Insurance
Commissary or Alternative Storage Facility
You must store and clean your cart or truck at a permitted commissary or alternative facility approved by the Health Department.
You can find a complete list of commissaries www.nyc.gov/health/mobilefood.
You must submit a complete commissary agreement form or application to service at an alternative facility at your pre-permit inspection. Units that offer uncut fruit and vegetables or non-potentially hazardous unpackaged or prepackaged foods can apply to use an alternative facility to clean and store their unit.
Your Green Cart permit expires two years after issuance. 90 days before your permit expires, you will receive a renewal packet in the mail with instructions on how to renew. You will be able to renew in person (by appointment), or by mail.
Please renew promptly.
