By law, the City set caps (limits) on the number of Tobacco Retail Dealer Licenses that could be issued by community district. Community district caps for Tobacco Retail Dealer Licenses took effect February 24, 2018.

View a list of the current community district caps on NYC Open Data.

When the number of licenses falls below the cap in a community district, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) will announce an open filing period to submit applications through the Tobacco Retail Dealer License Lottery.

You can submit a license application only if:

• You applied for the lottery and received an offer to apply for a Tobacco Retail Dealer license.
• A business with a Tobacco Retail Dealer License is sold, someone acquires more than 10% of the shares of the corporation, or there is a change in partnership. You (the new business) may apply for a new license at the same location as long as there is a current, active license in good standing at the address and you apply for a new license within 30 days of the sale or change.
• Your business is located in certain airports or parks that are not subject to the community district caps.

If you meet one of the exceptions to the cap, you must submit the Tobacco Retail Dealer Cap Exception Certification and supporting documentation with your license application.

Regardless of the cap, DCWP still accepts renewal applications from businesses who already have the license.

Exempt Locations

These airports and parks are not subject to the community district caps:

• Bronx Park
• Central Park
• Flushing Meadows Park
• Forest Park
• Gateway National Recreation Area
• JFK Airport
• LaGuardia Airport
• Pelham Bay Park
• Prospect Park
• Van Cortlandt Park

Pharmacies

You can't apply if your business is or contains a pharmacy. New York City law prohibits pharmacies and businesses that contain pharmacies from obtaining licenses to sell tobacco products in the city.

By law, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) has conducted a review of Tobacco Retail Dealer licenses in each Community District to determine if the number of current licenses has fallen below the Community District cap. DCWP determined that the following Community Districts have available licenses:

DCWP will conduct a lottery for the available licenses in these Community Districts only.

The period to apply online for the lottery begins November 1, 2024 and ends November 29, 2024. DCWP must receive the completed lottery application by 5:00 PM on November 29.

Get Information

Visit the DCWP website for frequently asked questions.

Apply Online Beginning November 1

Visit nyc.gov/BusinessToolbox.

What Happens Next

At the close of the lottery application period, DCWP will assign each accepted lottery application a randomized computer-generated priority number.

If the number of accepted lottery applications exceeds the number of available licenses in a Community District, DCWP will issue offers to apply for the license in the order of the assigned priority numbers.

If you apply for the lottery, DCWP will email you a letter stating one of the following:

• You are receiving an offer to apply for a Tobacco Retail Dealer License and confirming next steps.
• You were not randomly selected to apply for a Tobacco Retail Dealer License.

If you receive an offer, you must comply with all licensing requirements within 65 days of the date you receive it. If you don't, the offer will become void.

Apply Online

To apply online, you need a Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) account.

Log in or register for a DCWP account.

Apply in Person

You can submit your application in person. An appointment is required.

Download the application on the DCWP license page.

About three months before your license expires, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) will mail you a renewal package.

Once your license expires, you are considered unlicensed. You may get penalties if you continue to operate. If you don’t renew within 59 days of expiration, you will have to reapply.

Renew Online

To renew online, you need to have a DCWP online account and a Personal Identification Number (PIN). The PIN is required to link information about your DCWP records to your online account.

Log in or register for a DCWP account.

Renew by Mail

Mail your application and required documents to:

DCWP Licensing Center
42 Broadway
New York, NY 10004

Renew in Person

You can submit your application in person. An appointment is required.

You can check the status of your application online or by contacting DCWP.

Online

Check application status.

By Email

Onlineappsdocs@dcwp.nyc.gov

By Phone

Online

Business Toolbox

With the DCWP Business Toolbox, you can learn about:

• Laws you need to know and obey
• Other licenses you might need
• What DCWP inspectors look for in your industry and avoid violations
• How to handle consumer complaints

You can also download:

• Required signs
• Checklists
• Publications, tips, and FAQs
• Model contracts and receipts
• Other templates

Go to the DCWP Business Toolbox.

DCWP Account

With a DCWP online account, you can:

• Apply for or renew a license
• Submit more documents for your license application (if you applied in person)
• Track your application
• Pay fines and fees
• Resolve DCWP violations
• Access your DCWP records
• Update your business information, such as:
  • Your name or business name
  • Contact information
  • Corporate officer
• Request license replacements
• Request an inspection
• Ask a question about workplace law

Log in or register for a DCWP account.

Visit the following pages for help with:

• Online technical issues
• DCWP violations
• Replacing a license, decal, ID card, or complaint sign

If you have license-specific questions or concerns, you can contact or visit DCWP.

By Email

Onlineappsdocs@dcwp.nyc.gov

By Phone