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SidewalkSnitch / Rulebook / Street Vending / DOT-VND-013
Street Vendor — Within 20 ft of a Building Entrance or Place of Public Assembly
Regulation
Street Vending · NYC DOHMH / DCWP · NYC Admin Code §17-315(d) (food); §20-465(d) (general)
Street Vendor — Within 20 ft of a Building Entrance or Place of Public Assembly is enforced by NYC DOHMH / DCWP under NYC Admin Code §17-315(d) (food); §20-465(d) (general). Severity default: Medium.
The regulation
Vendors may not place a cart against the display windows of a fixed business, nor within 20 feet of any building entranceway, store, theater, sports arena, or other place of public assembly, nor within 20 feet of the exits of street-level residential buildings.
What to photograph
- cart directly in front of a doorway
- cart against a storefront display window
- cart by a theater or arena entrance
How to file a complaint
- Photograph vendor setup, cart, and whether permit decal is visible.
- Note distance from curb, crosswalk, or subway entrance.
- File at 311 under Vendor Enforcement or Mobile Food Vendor.
Official channel: portal.311.nyc.gov or dial 311. Agency: NYC DOHMH / DCWP.
Penalties & fines
DCWP and DOHMH fines vary by license type; unlicensed vending can result in confiscation and fines over $1,000.
What happens after you file
DCWP and NYPD enforce vending rules. Food vendors also fall under DOHMH grade and permit requirements.
SidewalkSnitch supports photo analysis for vendor complaints.
Draft a filing in the appFAQ
Can I file anonymously?
311 requires contact information for follow-up. Your identity is not shared with the violator. SidewalkSnitch requires phone verification for filings.
Does SidewalkSnitch submit this to 311 automatically?
We prepare the text. You file it on 311. Nothing goes to 311 unless you send it.