New York Business License: Who Needs One & How to Apply (2025)

What Is a Business License in New York?

A business license is a permit issued by a local, state, or federal body in order to allow businesses to perform a specific business activity and/or operate legitimately. 

So, if there isn’t a “general business license” in New York, what exactly is there?

Well, New York — like the vast majority of states — imposes different requirements depending on where you’re located and what you actually do. 

For example:

• A restaurant in New York City will likely need a food service establishment permit from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH),
• A barbershop will likely need a professional license from the New York Department of State’s Division of Licensing Services.
• A retail store selling taxable goods will need a Certificate of Authority (Sales Tax Permit) through New York Business Express.
• A business that wants to install signage in New York City will need a sign permit from the NYC Department of Buildings.

It all depends on what you do, and where you’re located. There is no “business license” that you will need to obtain just to operate no matter what, and while most businesses will need some form of business license to operate, this will not be the case for everyone. 

Do I Need a New York Business License?

Well, the answer to this will ultimately depend on your business’s situation. You can have a look at our table below in order to get a general idea:

New York Business Licensing at a Glance

Jurisdiction	Business Licenses	Who Needs It & Where to Apply
Local	Health Permits, Zoning Permits, Occupancy Certificates, Industry-Specific Permits, etc.	Varies by location Contact your local municipality to determine local requirements.
State	Sales Tax Permit (Certificate of Authority)	Businesses selling taxable goods or services. Apply via the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF).
	Professional Licenses	Required for professions (e.g., nurses, contractors, architects, etc). Apply via the NY State Education Department’s Office of the Professions.
	Industry-Specific State Licenses	Businesses in regulated industries (e.g., food, liquor, environmental, vehicle dealers)  Apply through the relevant New York agency (e.g., New York State Liquor Authority).
Federal	Industry-Specific Licenses	Businesses involved in federally regulated activities such as agriculture, aviation, firearms, alcohol, broadcasting, or wildlife. Apply through the relevant federal agency (e.g., USDA, FAA, ATF, FCC, FWS)

*While this table is meant to give you a general idea, it’s by no means exhaustive. For all your licensing needs, we suggest either going with a professional licensing service or consulting with a business attorney.

How to Get a Business License in New York

The process of obtaining a business license in New York will depend on the permit in question, but generally involves completing the following steps:

1. Form a Business Structure & Obtain an EIN

We recommend formalizing your business before acquiring a business license in order to avoid potentially having to repeat this process again later down the line. 

This also gives other benefits depending on the business model, such as:

• Personal liability protection
• Improved legitimacy 
• Larger access to loans and corporate finance

Note: You should obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) after forming your LLC. You can have a look at our How to Get an EIN overview for more information. 

2. Apply for the Right Business License in New York

This step will depend on the business license in question.

New York Local Business Licenses

Many New York cities and counties require local business licenses or permits to be obtained. This can be in addition to the common state-wide licenses talked about above.

Here are some common local permits you may need:

• Industry Permits: This includes health permits required for restaurants, food trucks, and businesses handling food products (e.g., if your business is based in Westchester County, you would look at the Westchester County Department of Health website for food service establishment permits).
• Zoning Permits: You may need this to ensure that your business’s location is zoned appropriately and is compliant with local laws (e.g., if you were based in Buffalo, you would connect with the City of Buffalo’s Zoning Ordinances & Districts).
• Sign Permits: These can be required before installing business signage (e.g., if you were based in Rochester, sign permits are part of the building permit process and can be submitted through their online permitting system referenced on the City of Rochester’s Civics Property Management Portal website).
• Certificate of Occupancy/Compliance Permits: Required for most businesses before they can legally occupy a building or space. This verifies that the structure meets building codes and is safe for the intended use (e.g., if your business is in Syracuse, you would check the City of Syracuse’s Division of Code Enforcement website for Certificate of Compliance requirements).

You can look at the New York Department of State’s Counties page in order to obtain your local county’s/city’s official contact information.

New York State Business Licenses

Below we’ve included the most common business licenses that are required on a state level. 

New York Certificate of Authority

You can register for a New York certificate of authority for sales tax online. If you haven’t already, you will need to register for an NY.gov business account. There is no filing fee.

Apply Online With New York Business Express

Apply Online

Fee: None

Tip: Your business does not need to pay sales and use tax when purchasing goods for resale. You’ll need to have obtained a Certificate of Authority and present a Resale Certificate when buying such items for this to apply. 

New York Professional Licenses

If you’re interested in a professional license, you’ll need to head over to the relevant state commission, as this is not handled on a local level. We’ve provided the licensing boards of a few of the most common professions below to get you started:

• New York State Education Department Office of the Professions: Oversees licensing for over 50 professions, including physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists, social workers, veterinarians, engineers, architects, certified public accountants (CPAs), chiropractors, physical therapists, athletic trainers, nutritionists, midwives, and many others.
• New York Department of State Division of Licensing Services: Handles over 32 professional occupations including real estate brokers and salespersons, contractors, electricians, barbers, cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technicians, property tax consultants, massage therapists, notaries, security guards, private investigators, and others.
• New York Department of Financial Services: Regulates business licenses for insurance agents, brokers, adjusters, consultants, and all insurance-related professions.
• New York State Courts Board of Law Examiners: Handles the licensing and regulation of attorneys practicing law in the state through bar examination and admission requirements.

For more information on how to go about getting licensed, you can have a look at StateRequirement’s in-depth licensing guides. 

Industry-Specific State Licenses

Some New York businesses require additional licenses based on the specific industry they operate in.

Here are some common examples of industry-specific state licenses in New York:

• Liquor License: Required for businesses that manufacture, distribute, or sell alcoholic beverages. Regulated by the New York State Liquor Authority (SLA). Different license types exist for on-premises consumption (restaurants, bars, taverns) and off-premises sales (liquor stores, grocery stores).
• Motor Vehicle Dealer License: Required for buying, selling, or exchanging new or used vehicles if you sell more than five vehicles in a calendar year. Regulated by the New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Includes requirements for surety bonds, business locations, dealer plates, and record keeping. 
• Child Care License: Required for child care centers, family day care homes, group family day care, and school-age child care programs serving three or more children for more than three hours per day. Regulated by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS).
• Food Processing Establishment License: Required for food manufacturers, processing plants, wholesale bakeries, and retail establishments conducting food preparation activities. Regulated by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

New York Environmental Permits

If your business’s industry will mean that it could negatively impact the environment, there’s a good chance you’ll need some sort of license or permit from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

Examples of industries and activities requiring environmental permits include:

• Petroleum Bulk Storage (PBS) Registration: Registration is mandatory if the storage capacity is over 1,100 gallons for facilities storing petroleum products like gasoline, diesel, or heating oil. This includes gas stations, auto repair shops, and businesses with backup generators or heating oil tanks.
• Air Facility Registration: Required for businesses with equipment that emits air pollutants below major source thresholds, such as dry cleaners, auto body shops, print shops, and small manufacturers. Most large sources require comprehensive air permits, while smaller sources are covered by air facility registrations. 
• SPDES Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP): Required for industrial facilities with stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity. The MSGP covers thirty one different industrial sectors which include activities such as mining, land transportation, and scrap recycling.
• SPDES General Permit for Construction Activity: Required for construction projects that will involve soil disturbance of one or more acres or smaller projects in sensitive watersheds.
• Chemical Bulk Storage (CBS) Registration: Required for facilities storing hazardous substances above threshold quantities, including certain pesticides, acids, and other chemicals used in manufacturing or agriculture.
• Minor Facility Registration (Wastewater): For businesses discharging industrial wastewater to surface waters in smaller quantities, such as car washes, laundromats, or food processors.
• Wetlands Permits: Required for any construction or development activities in or adjacent to state-regulated wetlands, including building, filling, or dredging.
• Water Supply Permits: For businesses operating their own water supply systems or wells serving the public.
• Hazardous Waste Generator ID: Required for businesses that generate any amount of hazardous waste, from small quantity generators like auto shops to larger manufacturers.
• Used Oil Registration: For businesses that collect, store, or burn used oil, including service stations and fleet maintenance facilities.
• Protection of Waters Permit: For work in or near streams, rivers, or lakes, such as installing docks, culverts, or conducting streambank stabilization.

Tip: The Small Business Environmental Support Office (SBESO) offers free and confidential assistance for businesses wanting to understand and comply with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. You can contact them over phone or email. 

Federal Business Licenses for New York LLCs

If your business is in a federally regulated industry (which is uncommon), it’ll need to acquire the appropriate business license from the right body before starting to operate. 

A full list of industries regulated at a federal level can be found below:

• Agriculture: Overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Alcoholic Beverages: Overseen by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the Local Alcohol Beverage Control Board
• Aviation: Overseen by the Federal Aviation Administration.
• Firearms, Ammunitions, and Explosives: Overseen by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
• Fish and Wildlife: Overseen by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
• Commercial Fishing: Overseen by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service.
• Maritime Transportation: Overseen by the Federal Maritime Commission.
• Mining and Drilling: Overseen by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.
• Radio and Television Broadcasting: Overseen by the Federal Communications Commission.
• Transportation and Logistics: Overseen by the U.S. Department of Transportation

New York Business License Renewal

Depending on your business license, you may need to renew it periodically — usually within one or two years. 

This is not required for a Certificate of Authority (i.e., your sales tax permit) unless you change the form of your business (e.g., start as a disregarded entity and then convert into a C Corp, etc).

Renewal is required for practically all professional licenses; several of the local permits will also need to be renewed annually; this includes health department permits, signage permits, and fire department permits, which generally all need to be renewed annually.

Having said that, this will depend on both your location and the license in question.

New York Business License FAQs

Quick Links

• New York Business Express
• New York Department of Taxation and Finance
• New York Division of Licensing Services
• New York Town Websites
• New York County Websites