New York, NY – In response to industry concerns New York City has updated laundry licensing
requirements. DCA is changing its application requirements so businesses can apply for new laundry licenses without providing a physical copy of a Certificate of Occupancy. As required by the Administrative Code, businesses must certify compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and rules, including those from other City agencies, as part of the application process. DCA will also be issuing six-month temporary licenses to businesses with circumstances that prevent them from certifying compliance.
“Small businesses are the backbone of New York’s economy,” said Mayor de Blasio. “We want our laundries to know that we heard their concerns about this new law and are taking action. Now, by streamlining the license application requirements, it will be easier for laundries to comply with the new law so they can keep their doors open.”
“Last week, we announced a short-term solution of issuing temporary operating letters to laundries as we explored a more permanent solution,” said Department of Consumer Affairs Commissioner Lorelei Salas. “We hope that these changes will make it easier for these hardworking business owners to comply with all licensing laws so they can continue to serve their communities.”
The City’s new Laundry Licensing Law, which went into effect on January 30, 2017, created three new license categories – Industrial Laundry, Industrial Laundry Delivery, and Retail Laundry. Industrial Laundry, Industrial Laundry Delivery, and new Retail Laundry businesses were required to be licensed by January 30, 2017. Retail laundries that currently hold a laundry license must apply for the new license before their current licenses expire on December 31, 2017. All businesses must be licensed—or have a temporary operating letter—by January 1, 2018. Businesses that exclusively perform dry cleaning services do not need a DCA license. Last summer, DCA mailed and phoned existing laundry/laundry jobber licensees with FAQs and information about a series of open houses and, in August, conducted a series of five open houses across the city to educate business owners about the law. DCA also has FAQs available and an inspection checklist so businesses know what they need to do to comply with the law.
“We must make sure that laws passed and rules implemented do not have unintended negative consequences,” said Council Member Rafael Espinal. “Extending the deadline will give laundromat owners across the city ample time to do what is needed to be in compliance with the law. We must continue to support the small businesses that are the backbone of our society and I applaud DCA and Commissioner Salas on taking this step to do so.”
