You will need a liquor license for anything that deals with the sale, manufacturing or transportation of alcohol. From wine, to beer to hard liquor and anything in between, a liquor license is an absolute must. Please click HERE for more details.

Any premises where 10 or more amusement devices are located requires an Amusement Arcade license.

You must have an auctioneer license if you sell merchandise by public auction.

Any business that owns or rents a space where a public auction occurs must have an Auction House (Premises) license.

A nonprofit organization must have a Bingo Game Operator license if it conducts bingo games in which designated numbers or symbols on a card are matched with numbers or symbols selected at random, and prizes are awarded.

A person or business must have a Booting Company license if they are in the business of placing a mechanical device on a parked motor vehicle designed to prohibit its usual manner of movement.

Any room, place, or space in New York City in which patron dancing is permitted in connection with the restaurant business or a business that sells food and/or beverages to the public requires a Cabaret license.

Any room, place, or space in New York City used in the business of serving food or beverages for a particular event in which the public is not invited or admitted and where entertainment is permitted requires a Catering Establishment license.

A cigarette retail dealer is any person, other than a wholesale dealer, engaged in selling cigarettes. A license must be obtained for each place of business in New York City, where the person sells cigarettes. The possession or transportation at any one time of 5,000 or more cigarettes by any person other than a manufacturer, an agent, a licensed wholesale dealer, or a person delivering cigarettes in the regular course of business for a manufacturer, an agent, or a licensed wholesale or retail dealer shall be presumptive evidence that the person is a retail dealer.

A business must have a Commercial Lessor license if it owns or leases its premises for authorized organization(s) to conduct charitable gaming activities such as bingo games and games of chance.

A person or business must have a Dealer in Products for the Disabled license if primarily involved in the selling, renting, repairing or adjusting of any instrument or device designed for the disabled (for example, braces, crutches, wheelchairs, etc.) This description is only a general explanation of which businesses need to have a Dealer in Products for the Disabled license.

All businesses that seek to collect personal or household debts from New York City residents must have a Debt Collection Agency license no matter where the agency is located. This licensing requirement includes “debt buyers,” businesses that buy overdue debt, and then try to collect money sometimes by taking consumers to court.

If you wish to be able to accept EBT cards at your establishment then you will need this license.

A person or business must have an Electronic & Home Appliance Service Dealer license if engaged in the repair or servicing of electronic equipment and/or home appliances. A license is also required if electronic equipment or home appliances are accepted for repair, even if the repair work is done off-site.

A business must have an Electronics Store license if it sells audio equipment, video equipment, photographic equipment, computers or computer equipment, or calculators. A license is NOT required if:

1. the area used to display electronic goods is less than 20 percent of the total display area OR
2. less than 30 electronic items are on display

You must have an Employment Agency license if, for a fee, you procure or attempt to procure employment or engagements for persons seeking employment or engagements, or assist employers in procuring employees.

If you prepare or handle food you will need a Food License. Even a self serve coffee station in your establishment demands that you have a Food License. Failure to do so can lead to substantial fines and eventual closing of your establishment. Please contact us ASAP to find out what Food License is necessary for your situation.

A nonprofit organization must have a Games of Chance license if it conducts games of chance in which prizes are awarded on the basis of a designated winning number(s), color(s), or symbol(s), determined by chance. These games fall into three general categories:

1. Las Vegas Nights (Casino Nights): Las Vegas Nights are casino-type games of chance, including roulette, craps, blackjack, money wheels, bang, and other such games played at carnivals, festivals, or similar events.
   
   
2. Bell Jars: Bell jars, which include “coin boards,” “merchandise boards,” and “seal cards,” are games in which a participant draws a card from a suitable container, typically a jar or New York State Racing & Wagering Board-approved vending machine containing numbers, colors, or symbols that, when uncovered, may reveal a prize awarded on the basis of a designated winning number, color, or symbol or combination of numbers, colors, or symbols.
   
   
3. Raffles: Raffles are games in which a participant pays money in return for a ticket or other receipt and a prize is awarded on the basis of a randomly selected winning number(s), color(s), or symbol(s) designated on the ticket or receipt.

A business must have a Gaming Cafe license if it has three or more publicly accessible computers or electronic devices in which game software has been installed for the purpose of playing games on the premises.

A business accommodating five or more vehicles for a fee or other consideration charged directly or indirectly must have a Garage license (if vehicles are stored in an entirely enclosed space), a Parking Lot license (if vehicles are stored in an unenclosed space), or a Combo Garage and Parking Lot license (if vehicles are stored in both enclosed and unenclosed spaces).

A business accommodating five or more vehicles for a fee or other consideration charged directly or indirectly must have a Garage license (if vehicles are stored in an entirely enclosed space), a Parking Lot license (if vehicles are stored in an unenclosed space), or a Combo Garage and Parking Lot license (if vehicles are stored in both enclosed and unenclosed spaces).

You must have a General Vendor license if you sell, lease, or offer to sell or lease goods or services in a public place. 

You do NOT need a General Vendor license if:

• You sell newspapers, periodicals, books, pamphlets, or other written matter.
• You sell artwork, including paintings, photographs, prints, and sculptures.
• You sell food. Note: Food vending requires a license from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Call us for information about food cart vendor licenses and permits.
• You will only sell merchandise from a booth or stand at an authorized Street Fair (e.g., street fair, block party, or festival). Please note that you must obtain another license in order to sell merchandise at an authorized Street Fair. Call us for more info.

You must have a General Vendor Distributor license if you transport goods, by means of motor vehicle, to a public space to sell to a general vendor.

A person or business must have a Home Improvement Contractor license if engaged in the construction, repair, remodeling, or addition to any land or building used as a residence. This includes, but is not limited to, the construction, replacement, or improvement of basements, driveways, fences, garages, landscaping, patios, porches, sidewalks, swimming pools, terraces, and other improvements to structures or upon land that is adjacent to a home or apartment building.

You must have a Home Improvement Salesperson license if you solicit, negotiate, or offer to negotiate a home improvement contract with a property owner.

You must have a Horse Drawn Cab Driver/Owner license to drive/own a horse drawn cab in New York City.

A business must have a Laundry license if it washes, dries, starches, or irons clothes, household linens, or other washable fabrics for the public or, if self-service or otherwise, the public may come to the business to wash clothes or other fabrics whether by automatic or coin-operated machines.

You must have a Locksmith license to repair, service, install, inspect, and open and close locks by mechanical means.

• Apprentice

You must have a Locksmith Apprentice license if you are learning the trade of locksmithing under the supervision of a licensed locksmith. The apprentice-training period should not exceed 36 months. After 36 months of being a Locksmith Apprentice, you must apply for a Locksmith license if you decide to continue with locksmith activities.

You must have a Motion Picture Projectionist license to operate any motion picture projection apparatus or any connection thereof, in any place of assembly, or in any public or private building whether used for shows or amusement or otherwise.

A business must have a Newsstand license if it operates a stand or booth on a public sidewalk that is not readily removable and is primarily used for the sale of newspapers and periodicals. No one may hold a license for more than two newsstands at a given time.

A person or business must have a Pawnbroker license if engaged in the loaning of money on deposit or pledge of personal property, or the purchasing of personal property on the condition of selling it back at a stipulated price.

A business accommodating five or more vehicles for a fee or other consideration charged directly or indirectly must have a Garage license (if vehicles are stored in an entirely enclosed space), a Parking Lot license (if vehicles are stored in an unenclosed space), or a Combo Garage and Parking Lot license (if vehicles are stored in both enclosed and unenclosed spaces).

You must have a Pedicab Business license if you are a pedicab owner (you own, lease, or otherwise control a pedicab or pedicabs) and operate or authorize the operation of one or more pedicabs for hire to passengers within the City of New York. This description is only a general explanation of which businesses need to have a Pedicab Business license.

 

You must have a Pedicab Driver license if you drive or propel a pedicab for hire to passengers within the City of New York. Pedicab Driver applicants must be at least 18 years old. This description is only a general explanation of which individuals need to have a Pedicab Driver license.

A business must have a Pool or Billiard Room license if it has three or more pool, billiard, or pocket billiard tables for play on the premises. A license is not required if:

• You are a membership corporation, club, society, or association that owns and occupies the premises in which only members use the pool or billiard room and the room is not the dominant facility or activity of the organization OR
• You are a religious, charitable, eleemosynary (relating to charity or the giving of alms), or education organization that owns and occupies the premises in which only members use the pool or billiard room.

This description is only a general explanation of which businesses need to have a Pool or Billiard Room license.

• Individual

You must have a Process Server Individual license if you serve personally or by substituted service five (5) or more processes in any one-year period.

You do not need a Process Server Individual license if:

• You are an attorney admitted to practice in New York State.
• You are an employee of a city, state, or federal department or agency acting within the scope of your employment.

 

• Agency

A person or business must have a Process Serving Agency license if the person or business assigns, distributes, or delivers process to another for actual service.

A Scale Dealer/Repairer is a person or business conducting a business of dealing in, trading in, selling, receiving, or repairing condemned, rebuilt, or used weighing or measuring devices. This description is only a general explanation of which businesses need to have a Scale Dealer/Repairer license.

A person or business must have a Scrap Metal Processor license if they are operating or maintaining a business engaged primarily in the purchase, processing, and shipment of ferrous or non-ferrous scrap. This description is only a general explanation of which businesses need to have a Scrap Metal Processor license.

You must have a Secondhand Dealer Auto license if you buy or sell secondhand automobiles. This description is only a general explanation of which businesses need to have a Secondhand Dealer Auto license.

A person or business that buys or sells secondhand articles in New York City must have a Secondhand Dealer General license.

Used clothing stores, garage sales, used boat dealers, and not-for-profit organizations are exempt from the Secondhand Dealer General license requirement. Not-for-profit organizations must keep proof of being registered as a nonprofit and must maintain books and records on their premises.

A business must have a Sidewalk Cafe license and revocable consent if it operates a portion of a restaurant on a public sidewalk. Please call us for more details as to where and how Sidewalk Cafes are permitted.

A business must have a Sightseeing Bus license if it arranges for the operation of one or more motor vehicles which seats eight or more passengers each, operating for hire either to bring passengers from a fixed point in the City of New York to a place(s) of interest or amusement OR engaged in exclusive use for a specific or special trip or excursion from a starting point within New York City.

You must have a Sightseeing Guide license to guide or direct people to any place or point of public interest.

If you advertise that you are having a sale or offer to sell to the public merchandise in connection with a declared purpose (e.g., Fire, Smoke, or Water Damage; Going Out of Business; Liquidation; Loss of Lease; Renovation), you must have a Special Sale license. The sale must be conducted at the location that is being closed.

A business must have a Stoop Line Stand license if fruits, vegetables, soft drinks, flowers, confectionary, cigars, cigarettes, tobacco, or ice cream are sold from a stand outside of and directly adjacent to an existing retail establishment.

A person or business must have a Storage Warehouse license if storing consumers’ goods for compensation. The self-storage industry is exempt.

You must have a Temporary Street Fair Vendor Permit in order to sell merchandise or offer a service from a booth or stand at an authorized street fair (e.g., street fair, block party, or festival). Temporary Street Fair Vendor Permits may only be used at street fairs authorized by the Mayor’s Street Activity Permit Office for which you have registered as a vendor with the fair’s sponsoring organization. A Temporary Street Fair Vendor Permit cannot be used as a General Vendor License. Use of a Temporary Street Fair Vendor Permit at events other than authorized street fairs for which you have registered as a vendor will subject you to arrest, fine, and confiscation of your goods.

• Company

A business must have a Tow Truck Company license if it tows vehicles for profit within the five boroughs of New York City.

• Driver

You must have a Tow Truck Driver license if you drive a tow truck in the City of New York. Tow Truck Driver applicants must be at least 18 years old.

You must have a Tow Truck Exemption license if you own or operate one or more tow trucks for the exclusive use of the following business types:

• vehicle dismantler
• franchised public transportation operator
• bus company
• taxi or limousine company
• motor vehicle rental agency
• school bus operator
• public utility company

If you didn't find the license you were looking for in this list, or if you are unsure of the exact license you may need, please contact us now to find out. This list represents only a small part of the licenses we do, so get in touch with us and let us know your particular business situation.