Non-Retail Food Processing Establishment Permit

You need a permit from the NYC Health Department to run a Non-Retail Food Processing Establishment in New York City that processes, prepares, stores or packs food. The food is not sold directly to people.

This includes:

• Shared kitchens
• Food vending machine commissaries
• Mobile food unit commissaries
• Mobile food unit depots
• Wholesale food establishments

Wholesale food establishments

These places keep food (other than seafood) that is not sold to the public. They are not regulated by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets or other agencies.

Mobile food unit commissaries

These are places where food, containers or supplies are processed, prepared, handled, packed, transferred or stored. Food is distributed to a food vendor or supplied to a mobile food unit.

Mobile food unit depots

These are places where five or more mobile food units and their non-food supplies are stored or serviced.

• Design and build your establishment to meet food safety requirements.

• Submit required documents with your application. Review the Required Documents Checklist to see which documents you must submit.

• Provide proof of a Certificate of Authority to Collect Sales Tax
  The address on the certificate must match the applicant or establishment address.

• Provide proof of Workers' Compensation and Disability Insurance
  Include the insurance carrier's name, policy number and expiration date. If exempt, provide Form CE-200 stamped by the Workers' Compensation Board and 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.

• Have a supervising manager with a Food Protection Certificate
  A Food Protection Certificate or registration in the course is required when applying for the permit. Certification is required before opening the business.

• Pay all outstanding fines for Health Code Violations
  Fines can be paid in person at the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Citywide Licensing Center or online.
  Pay outstanding fines online

NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)
Licensing Center
42 Broadway, Lobby
New York, NY 10004
Email: onlineappsdocs@dcwp.nyc.gov

• Provide a valid email address if applying online

• Pay the permit fees

  • Permit fee: $200.00 (tax-exempt organizations may get a fee waiver with IRS confirmation)
  • Food Protection Course Fee: $114.00

• Use accepted payment methods

  • Check (payable to the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene; accepted only in person at DCWP)
  • Money order (payable to the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene; accepted only in person at DCWP)
  • American Express
  • Discover
  • Mastercard
  • Visa

• Receipt of application:

  • If you applied online, you will get a receipt by email.
  • If you applied in person, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) will give you a receipt.

• Start operating:

  • You can start operating 22 days after you submit your application.

• Application processing:

  • The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will process your application.
  • They will contact you if they need more information or documents.

• Check application status:

  • You can check the status of your online application by logging into the online system and selecting "Search Applications," or by calling 311.

• Pre-permit inspection:

  • The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will conduct a Pre-Permit Inspection to ensure your food service establishment meets New York City standards.
  • If you pass the inspection, they will mail you a printed license.
  • If you do not pass, the inspector will give you a list of things to fix. You must then schedule another inspection.
  • If you pass the second inspection, they will mail your permit to your establishment address.

• Follow the regulations and guidelines in Article 81 of the NYC Health Code:
  Article 81 of the NYC Health Code - Operating a Food Establishment (PDF)

• Your food establishment will get an unscheduled inspection every year: The Health Department offers tools to help you get an A-Grade in food safety.
  What to Expect When You're Inspected - How to Get an A Grade (PDF)

• Find food safety and operating guidelines on the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's (DOHMH) Food Service Operator's website:
  Food Service Operator's Website

• Follow the rules about using transfats in preparing food for the public.

• Learn how to prevent pest infestations in and around your business.

• Permits expire one year from the end of the month you applied. Three months before expiration, you will get a renewal notice in the mail. You cannot renew your permit if you have unpaid fines.

• Applying for a DOHMH permit does not meet the requirements of other City and State agencies: You must apply for all other permits, licenses and authorizations needed. No premises may be used or occupied until a Certificate of Occupancy is issued by the NYC Commissioner of Buildings. Failure to follow all regulations, including those from other agencies, may result in the suspension of DOHMH permits until you show proof of compliance.

• Gather all required documents

• Make electronic versions of all documents
  You will upload these documents into the online permit system. Accepted file types: PDF, JPG, GIF, PNG, XLS, XLSX, DOC, DOCX, VSD and TXT.

• Create an account with the NYC Online Licensing system
  Have your credit or debit card information ready. You can save and return to partially completed applications.

• Select the permit type and enter the required information
  Fields with an asterisk (*) are required. Upload all supporting documents individually or as a single file.

• Pay with a credit or debit card to complete the application

• Complete an application form and gather all required documents
  NYC Health Department Permit Application Form (PDF)

• File all documents and pay the fee in person at the DCWP Citywide Licensing Center

NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)
Licensing Center
42 Broadway, Lobby
New York, NY 10004
Email: onlineappsdocs@dcwp.nyc.gov

• Applications for new permits are not accepted by mail.

• Renewals can be submitted online via the NYC Online Licensing system: You need to register first. You cannot renew a permit if you have unpaid fines. You can pay fines online before renewing.

• To renew online for the first time, you need the Personal Identification Number (PIN) from your Renewal Notice for each permit or license you hold: The PIN links your records to one online account. You only need to use your PIN once for each permit or license.

• If you do not have your Renewal Notice, you can get your PIN by completing an online PIN Request Form or by calling 311:

• Note: If you need to upload documents, you will be prompted to download the Microsoft Silverlight application.

• You can renew your permit in person at the DCWP Citywide Licensing Center: If someone else renews for you, they must present an Authority to Act on your behalf.

NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)
Licensing Center
42 Broadway, Lobby
New York, NY 10004

• Follow the instructions on your renewal notice to renew by mail.