New York City is set to see a significant expansion of street vendor licenses after the city council overrode former Mayor Eric Adams' vetoes on key legislation. The moves come as an estimated 20,000-plus vendors operate across the five boroughs, but have been hindered by decades-old restrictions and a lack of available permits.
The new law will see 2,200 additional supervisory license applications made available to mobile food vendors annually until 2031, while 10,500 new general vending licenses are slated for issue in 2027. The increase is intended to alleviate years-long waitlists that have left thousands of applicants struggling to get their businesses off the ground.
The expansion has been hailed as a long-awaited recognition of street vendors' contributions to the city's economy, with advocates arguing that it will help these sellers – largely immigrants – come into compliance and improve their working conditions. The legislation also includes increased training, inspections, and cleanliness requirements for all vendors.
Council Speaker Julie Menin praised the council's vote, saying it was a "historic moment" for street vendors. Councilmember Pierina Sanchez, who introduced the expansion bill, described the measure as a major victory for her own family, who have been involved in street vending for years.
The new law comes after Adams vetoed a package of bills aimed at boosting access to licenses and education for street vendors on his last day in office. Adams argued that expanding street vending would worsen sidewalk congestion and strain city enforcement resources.
However, critics argue that the lack of available licenses has actually exacerbated these problems by leading vendors to operate illegally. Public Advocate Jumaane Williams said that by vetoing the reform package, Adams denied New York City's smallest businesses the support they need to survive and thrive.
The street vending package was one of 17 Adams vetoes overturned by the council in a single day – more overrides than any time in the past decade. The other bills included measures limiting how often ride-hailing companies can kick drivers off their apps and setting new requirements for city-financed affordable housing developments.
The new law will see 2,200 additional supervisory license applications made available to mobile food vendors annually until 2031, while 10,500 new general vending licenses are slated for issue in 2027. The increase is intended to alleviate years-long waitlists that have left thousands of applicants struggling to get their businesses off the ground.
The expansion has been hailed as a long-awaited recognition of street vendors' contributions to the city's economy, with advocates arguing that it will help these sellers – largely immigrants – come into compliance and improve their working conditions. The legislation also includes increased training, inspections, and cleanliness requirements for all vendors.
Council Speaker Julie Menin praised the council's vote, saying it was a "historic moment" for street vendors. Councilmember Pierina Sanchez, who introduced the expansion bill, described the measure as a major victory for her own family, who have been involved in street vending for years.
The new law comes after Adams vetoed a package of bills aimed at boosting access to licenses and education for street vendors on his last day in office. Adams argued that expanding street vending would worsen sidewalk congestion and strain city enforcement resources.
However, critics argue that the lack of available licenses has actually exacerbated these problems by leading vendors to operate illegally. Public Advocate Jumaane Williams said that by vetoing the reform package, Adams denied New York City's smallest businesses the support they need to survive and thrive.
The street vending package was one of 17 Adams vetoes overturned by the council in a single day – more overrides than any time in the past decade. The other bills included measures limiting how often ride-hailing companies can kick drivers off their apps and setting new requirements for city-financed affordable housing developments.
gotta say, this is like a dream come true for all those street vendors out there! I mean, 20k+ vendors already operating in NYC and still struggling to get legit licenses? It's crazy! 
I can imagine how frustrating it must be to wait years for something so basic. And now that the council has stepped in, it's like a weight's been lifted off their shoulders. Increased training, inspections, and cleanliness requirements are all good vibes too 
. This move is definitely a recognition of street vendors' contributions to the city's economy. It's not just about making more money, but also about creating safe working conditions and helping these entrepreneurs thrive. 
i gotta say, this is awesome news! 20k+ vendors are already struggling to make a living on the streets, and now we're finally seeing some progress 
. those waitlists have been insane, and its crazy that people had to wait years just to get a permit 
. its about time our city council stepped up and said enough is enough 
!
Street vendors deserve a break, you know? They work hard to bring that amazing street food to our streets and make this city what it is. I'm all about supporting small businesses, especially those run by immigrants who are trying to make a living in a new country. The 2,200 additional licenses per year is a game-changer for these folks - they can finally get their businesses off the ground without having to wait years for a permit. And let's be real, increased training and inspections will help keep our streets clean and safe too 
They've been waiting for this for ages & it's finally happening! 2,200 more licenses = a dream come true for all those struggling to get their businesses off the ground. The fact that they're getting more training & inspections is super important too - no one wants dodgy food or unsanitary conditions on our streets 
Finally, some good news about our street vendors 
! I'm super stoked that the NYC council has overridden former Mayor Eric Adams' vetoes on key legislation 
. The new law is a huge win, with 2,200 more supervisory licenses and 10,500 general vending licenses being made available 
.
. Increased training, inspections, and cleanliness requirements are all great measures to ensure that these vendors can operate safely and responsibly 
.
At least now we're talking about increasing training and inspections for vendors – that sounds like a win-win to me!
I'm so done with these street vendor licensing issues... Like, can't they just get it together? 20k+ vendors are trying to make a living here and the city is still finding ways to restrict them. 
, especially with the increased training & inspections, it's all about improving working conditions & safety standards 
. Can't wait to see these vendors thriving & contributing even more to our NYC economy 
It's not just about giving them access, though - it's also about making sure they're running their businesses safely and sustainably. Increased training, inspections, and cleanliness requirements are the real MVPs here. 
It's about time we streamlined the process & made it easier for them to make a living. And yeah, let's be real, some vendors have been operating outside the law 'cause they didn't have a choice... so this is like, a necessary step forward 
. Bring on those mobile food fests! 
. hope it helps the immigrant communities who run most of the street vendors get their lives together 
Street vendors in NYC are about to get a major boost 
. These immigrants work hard to bring that street food magic to the city, but they can't even get their businesses off the ground 
. The new law is a game-changer 
. More supervisory licenses and general vending licenses means less waitlists and more opportunities for these small business owners 
. Council Speaker Julie Menin says it's a "historic moment" - I think that's an understatement 
. I mean, can you imagine if all these vendors just gave up and went home? The diversity of food we have here would be lost forever 
. Plus, think about all the income these people generate for themselves and their families - it's not just about the money, but also about freedom and entrepreneurship.
. I'm all about giving people opportunities to succeed, you know? It's not like the city's gonna lose any money or anything - they're just making it easier for these entrepreneurs to get started and turn their passions into a living 
. I'm not surprised they're calling it a historic moment... it definitely feels like a major step forward for the city 
. It's about time they finally listened to these street vendors who've been struggling for years, right? I mean, 20k+ operating across the five boroughs is a huge number and it's crazy that they had to deal with all those restrictions in the first place. And now, 2k more licenses are being made available... it's still not enough, if you ask me 
.
. it's crazy how long they've been waiting for these licenses and now we're gonna see 2,200 more applications go through annually 
. increased training and inspections are great, but honestly, just getting a permit should be the least of their worries 
. let's hope this law brings in some new revenue for the city too 
, I love how she called it a "historic moment" 
, that's so cool!