Mobile food vending in Brooklyn requires a DOHMH Mobile Food Vendor License and a vehicle/cart Permit. The number of citywide permits is capped, creating a long waiting list, though Local Law 18 of 2021 added 445 new permits annually.
To operate a food truck or cart in Brooklyn, individual vendors must obtain a Mobile Food Vendor License from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) after completing a food protection course. Separately, each vehicle or pushcart needs a Mobile Food Vending Permit. Citywide, year-round permits are capped at roughly 5,100, with seasonal and borough-specific permits bringing the total to about 5,500. Local Law 18 of 2021 added 445 new permits per year through 2032 and created a Street Vendor Advisory Board. The waiting list for a permit has been closed for decades, creating a black market where permit holders illegally rent their permits for $20,000+ per year. Brooklyn hotspots include Smorgasburg, Prospect Park entrances, DUMBO, and Coney Island. All units must be commissary-based and pass DOHMH inspection, receiving a letter grade like restaurants.
Vending without a license or permit: $500–$1,000 per violation, plus cart/truck seizure. DOHMH sanitary violations can accumulate and trigger permit revocation.
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