2016
SIDEWALK VENDING GUIDEBOOK
TABLE OF CONTENTS AND INTRODUCTION
Table of Contents
Introduction…....................................................1
Food Cart Vending.............................…...........2
Mobile Food Truck Vending.…........................3
General Vending.…...........................................3
Illustration of Sidewalk Vending Rules...........5
District Vending Maps.....................................6
Introduction:
The SoHo Broadway Vending Guidebook is a handy resource for vendors
looking to vend within the SoHo Broadway Initiative’s business improvement
district, which is generally Broadway from Houston Street to Canal Street.
This Guidebook summarizes the laws that apply to vendors and brings them
together in one easy to use document to help vendors operate legally within the
SoHo Broadway business improvement district. The operation of a vending
business is generally governed by the City’s Administrative Code (AC) and the
Rules of the City of New York (RCNY). In developing this Guidebook, the
Initiative looked at the Administrative Code and Rules, reviewed the NYPD
Operations Order 39 of 2004 and spoke with members of the NYPD and
other interested parties who are familiar with the application of these rules.
Whether you’re a first time vendor or a vendor with years of experience, this
Guidebook has information you can use. The Guidebook includes a summary of
the laws and rules that govern the various types of vending with illustrations of
these rules and maps of the district showing where vending is generally allowed.
The guidebook does not include every law/rule and in particular does not include
laws/rules that are specific to disabled veteran vendors. While the guidebook is a
useful resource, a vendor should measure his or her location and check the
applicable law/rule to make sure he or she is in compliance.
Feel free to contact SoHo Broadway Initiative with any questions, clarifications
or suggestions on how to make this guidebook better.
Sincerely,
Mark Dicus
Executive Director
SoHo Broadway Initiative
1
FOOD CART VENDING
Required License/Permit
• Each food cart vendor must have a valid
food vendor’s license and each food cart
must have a valid permit (AC §17-307)
• A valid food cart permit must be affixed
to the cart in a conspicuous place
(AC §17-311(c))
• A food cart vendor must conspicuously
wear the valid food vendors’ license while
vending (AC §17-311(b))
• A food cart vendor must surrender the license when asked to do so by a
Police Officer or other authorized City employee (AC §17-311(a))
Food Cart Size and Orientation Restrictions
• Food cart may not exceed 5 FEET in width and 10 FEET in length, including
cart attachments and overhangs (RCNY §6-06)
• Food cart operating on the sidewalk must place the food cart so that the longer
side is adjacent and parallel to the curb abutting the sidewalk (RCNY §6-06)
Food Cart Location
• Food cart must be set up no further than 18 INCHES from the curb on the
sidewalk (AC §17-315(a))
• Food cart must be at least 10 FEET from a crosswalk or subway entrance/exit
(AC §17-315(e))
• Food cart must be at least 20 FEET from an entrance to a building, store, or
other place of public assembly as measured by the edge of the cart to the center
of the doorway (AC §17-315(d) and NYPD Operations Order Number 39 of 2004)
• Food cart may not be located in bus stop or taxi stand (AC §17-315(e))
• Food cart may not be placed on a sidewalk that is less than 12 FEET wide as
measured from the boundary of the private property to the curb (AC §17-315(a))
• Food cart may not lean against or touch a building or structure
(e.g. scaffolding, telephone booth, fire hydrant, lamp posts, parking meters,
etc.) (AC §17-315(b))
• Food cart must have ALL items related to the operation of the food cart in or
under such food cart except for a waste container (AC §17-315(c) and
NYPD Operations Order Number 39 of 2004))
2
FOOD CART VENDING
Amplified Sound
It is unlawful to operate any device or apparatus for the amplification of sound
in a public area without first obtaining a permit from the NYPD (AC §10-108)
MOBILE FOOD TRUCK VENDING
Mobile Food Truck
• Each mobile food truck must be operated by a person with a valid food
vendor’s license and the mobile food truck must have a valid permit
(RCNY §6-01 and AC §17-307)
• Mobile food truck may not display, sell, or offer
merchandise for sale from a vehicle within a
metered parking space while parking meter
regulations are in effect (RCNY §4-08(h)(8))
SoHo Broadway Metered Parking Regulations Schedule:
Monday - Friday —7am-10pm (commercial and 2 hour metered)
Saturday — 8am-10pm (2 hour metered)
Sunday – Metered parking regulations are not in effect
GENERAL VENDING
Required License
• General vendor must have valid license to vend, except for those selling 1st
amendment protected materials such as art or printed
materials (AC §20-453)
• General vendor must conspicuously wear the valid vending
license while vending (AC §20-461(b))
• General vendor must surrender the license when asked
to do so by a Police Officer or other authorized City
employee (AC §20-461(a))
Vending Stand Size and Orientation Restrictions
• General vendor’s stand may not exceed 8 FEET in width parallel to the curb
and 3 FEET in depth (AC §20-465(b))
3
GENERAL VENDING
• General vendor’s display, including the stand, may not exceed 5 FEET in height
measured from ground level (AC §20-465(n))
General Vendor Stand Location
• General vendor’s stand must be set up no further than 18 INCHES from the
curb on the sidewalk (AC §20-465 (a))
• General vendor’s stand must be at least 10 FEET from any driveway, subway
entrance or exit, or any corner (AC §20-465(e))
• General vendor’s stand must be at least 20 FEET from an entrance to a
building, store, or other place of public assembly as measured by the edge of the
stand to the center of the doorway (AC §20-465(d) and NYPD Operations
Order Number 39 of 2004)
• General vendor’s stand may not be located in a bus stop or taxi stand
(AC §20-465(e))
• General vendor’s stand may not be placed on a sidewalk that is less than
12 FEET wide as measured from the boundary of private property to the curb
(AC §20-465(a))
• General vendor’s stand may not lean against or touch a building or structure,
(E.G. scaffolding, telephone booth, fire hydrant, lamp posts, parking meters,
etc.) (AC §20-465(c))
• General vendor shall only use the area immediately beneath the surface of the
display space for the storage of items for sale (AC §10-465(n))
• General Vendor’s stand must not be placed over a utility structure such as:
ventilation grill, cellar door, manhole, transformer vault, or a subway access grate
(AC §20-465 (m))
• General vendor’s stand must be at least 5 FEET from a bus shelter, newsstand,
public telephone, or a disabled access ramp (AC §20-465 (q))
Amplified Sound
It is unlawful to operate any device or apparatus for the amplification of sound
in a public area without first obtaining a permit from the NYPD (AC §10-108)
Generator or Electricity
No general vendor shall use electricity, electrical generating equipment or oil
or gasoline powered equipment of any kind (AC §20-465 (p))
4
33’
General Vending Stand
ILLUSTRATION OF SIDEWALK VENDING RULES
5
5‘
8
8’
>12 ‘
10‘
>20‘
18”
>20‘
Food Cart
DISTRICT VENDING MAP
BLOCK 512
HOUSTON STREET
178 ft
MAP KEY
Curb Vending Zones
Food Carts Only
599
7502
All Vendors
District Map
BID Building
511
7503
597
14
595
15
593
15
591
17
589
Block Number
16
Lot Number
600
Building Address
Curb Line
Building Entrance
Structure
Ventilation Grate
Bus Stop
*Restriction:
Vending is prohibited on
Prince and Spring Streets
betw. Broadway and
Mercer Streets on
Saturday and Sundays
from 9am to 7pm.
Does not apply to
veterans with special
licenses.
512
7501
20
579
22
577
23
569
9 ft
126 ft*
PRINCE STREET
32 ft*
N
0
25
583
BROADWAY
MERCER STREET
Subway Station
50
Feet
100
6
DISTRICT VENDING MAP
BLOCK 511
TREE
S
TON
HOUS
MAP KEY
T
89 ft
Curb Vending Zones
Food Carts Only
All Vendors
12 ft
District Map
BID Building
511
600
16
3 ft
Block Number
598
16
Lot Number
600
Building Address
15
Curb Line
Building Entrance
Structure
592
Ventilation Grate
12
Bus Stop
BROADWAY
20 ft
16 ft
23 ft
584
511
8
580
6
568
1
14 ft
28 ft
4 ft
39 ft
20 ft
N
0
25
50
PRINCE STREET
Feet
100
7
23 ft
8 ft
CROSBY STREET
Subway Station
DISTRICT VENDING MAP
BLOCK 498
PRINCE STREET
50 ft*
MAP KEY
565
5
Curb Vending Zones
Food Carts Only
All Vendors
7
District Map
561
BID Building
511
Block Number
16
Lot Number
600
Building Address
557
9
Curb Line
8 ft
3 ft
Building Entrance
5 ft
2 ft
Structure
Ventilation Grate
Bus Stop
8 ft
498
MERCER STREET
11
*Restriction:
Vending is prohibited on
Prince and Spring Streets
betw. Broadway and
Mercer Streets on
Saturday and Sundays
from 9am to 7pm.
547
16
545
7502
543
18
541
20
537
21
23
N
25
50
Feet
100
8
535
529
SPRING STREET
7 ft
12 ft
15
Does not apply to
veterans with special
licenses.
0
549
BROADWAY
Subway Station
BLOCK 497
DISTRICT VENDING MAP
PRINCE STREET
88 ft
45 ft
MAP KEY
Curb Vending Zones
Food Carts Only
7 ft
All Vendors
18
560
District Map
7 ft
BID Building
511
Block Number
16
Lot Number
600
Building Address
558
15
Curb Line
Building Entrance
Structure
Ventilation Grate
Bus Stop
Subway Station
552
6 ft
12
BROADWAY
550
11
497
546
542
7
6
540
17 ft
536
4
1
530
7 ft
23 ft
SPRING STREET
N
0
25
50
9
Feet
100
9
CROSBY STREET
2 ft
DISTRICT VENDING MAP
BLOCK 484
SPRING STREET
MAP KEY
Curb Vending Zones
9
Food Carts Only
525
7 ft
All Vendors
11
District Map
BID Building
511
16
600
521
12
Block Number
523
Lot Number
Building Address
1
Curb Line
5 ft
Building Entrance
515
Structure
Ventilation Grate
Bus Stop
25 ft
7502
484
7501
BROADWAY
MERCER STREET
Subway Station
503
36 ft
501
499
23
495
24
9 ft
2 ft
26
491
28
BROOME STREET
N
0
25
50
Feet
100
10
489
DISTRICT VENDING MAP
BLOCK 483
SPRING STREET
15 ft
105 ft
MAP KEY
3 ft
Curb Vending Zones
17
524
Food Carts Only
All Vendors
District Map
BID Building
511
520
15
518
14
Block Number
16
Lot Number
600
Building Address
13
Curb Line
Building Entrance
514
Structure
Ventilation Grate
Bus Stop
512
8 ft
7502
510
10
508
7502
8
506
4 ft
2 ft
483
504
18 ft
6 ft
498
5
496
4
494
3
490
1
7 ft
19 ft
N
¯
0
25
50
CROSBY STREET
BROADWAY
Subway Station
4 ft
BROOME STREET
Feet
100
11
7
BLOCK 474
DISTRICT VENDING MAP
MAP KEY
BROOME STREET
Curb Vending Zones
Food Carts Only
7 ft 12 ft 3 ft 5 ft 12 ft
13 ft 5 ft
All Vendors
District Map
BID Building
511
29
487
30
483
32
481
Block Number
16
Lot Number
600
Building Address
Curb Line
Building Entrance
Ventilation Grate
Bus Stop
474
MERCER STREET
Subway Station
33
479
7505
475
7504
473
7502
BROADWAY
Structure
471
10 ft
35 ft
7506
463
GRAND STREET
N
0
25
50
Feet
100
12
14 ft
DISTRICT VENDING MAP
BLOCK 473
MAP KEY
BROOME STREET
Curb Vending Zones
58 ft
Food Carts Only
All Vendors
District Map
BID Building
511
Block Number
16
Lot Number
600
Building Address
486
14
484
14
478
10
7 ft
Curb Line
Building Entrance
Structure
Ventilation Grate
18 ft
Bus Stop
3 ft
7501
Subway Station
7 ft
3 ft
6 ft
476
CROSBY STREET
BROADWAY
17 ft
473
474
7
472
106
470
5
466
1
462
1
4 ft
135 ft
GRAND STREET
N
0
25
50
Feet
100
13
23 ft
DISTRICT VENDING MAP
BLOCK 232
MAP KEY
GRAND STREET
Curb Vending Zones
6 ft
Food Carts Only
35 ft
All Vendors
12
458
District Map
BID Building
511
16
600
Block Number
456
Lot Number
Building Address
11
454
Curb Line
10
Building Entrance
452
Ventilation Grate
Bus Stop
Subway Station
450
8
446
6
9
232
BROADWAY
4 ft
5
444
442
4
6 ft
5 ft
12 ft
440
3
434
1
55 ft
16 ft
HOWARD STREET
N
0
25
50
Feet
100
14
CROSBY STREET
Structure
DISTRICT VENDING MAP
BLOCK 231
GRAND STREET
MAP KEY
459
30
Curb Vending Zones
Food Carts Only
All Vendors
455
32
District Map
12 ft
BID Building
16
600
35
Block Number
451
Lot Number
Building Address
231
36
Curb Line
Building Entrance
37
Structure
449
447
Ventilation Grate
MERCER STREET
Bus Stop
Subway Station
443
7501
6 ft
40
441
14
433
3 ft
8
427
2 ft
10
425
11
423
4 ft
HOWARD STREET
231
61 ft
12
CANAL
STREET
N
0
30
60
3 ft
Feet
120
15
419
8 ft
BROADWAY
511
4 ft
DISTRICT VENDING MAP
BLOCK 209
MAP KEY
Curb Vending Zones
Food Carts Only
All Vendors
District Map
HOWARD STREET
BID Building
511
Block Number
16
Lot Number
600
Building Address
70 ft
Curb Line
Building Entrance
Structure
5
428
Ventilation Grate
Bus Stop
BROADWAY
Subway Station
2 ft
424
7501
209
418
11 ft
1
9 ft
13 ft
3 ft
CANAL S
TREET
N
0
20
40
Feet
80
16
7 ft
7 ft
The SoHo Broadway Initiative is a not-for-profit,
tax-exempt organization that represents the business
improvement district for SoHo’s Broadway from Houston to
Canal (the “District”). The Initiative is a public private
partnership whose purpose is to foster a unique, vibrant,
mixed-use district with enhanced maintenance and public
safety, effective advocacy and administration, technical and
professional services for its members, and strategic capital
improvements. The SoHo Broadway Initiative serves those
who live, work and visit the District.
© SoHo Broadway Initiative 2016
Photos: Molly Prep
Graphic Design: Peggy Low
Maps: Lauren Rennee, BFJ Planning
Special thanks to the Initiative’s Bill Decker, Katie Garrett and
Karissa Lidstrand for their work in developing this Guidebook.
SoHo Broadway Initiative
594 Broadway, Suite 311
New York, NY 10012
Tel: 212-390-1131
Web: www.sohobroadway.org
Email: info@sohobroadway.org