All topics / Basic Services for All New Yorkers
Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
Created on April 29, 1969, when the City Council's Consumer Protection Law merged the Department of Markets (including its Weights and Measures division) with the Department of Licensing into the Department of Consumer Affairs — the first municipal consumer-protection agency of its kind in the country. Its mandate expanded over the decades, adding financial-empowerment services in 2006 and a labor-standards office in 2016, and it was renamed the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection in 2019 to reflect that broader worker-protection role; DCWP now licenses more than 45,000 businesses across over 45 industries.
What's working
- What percent of cases settled prior to original hearing date?: 68% — increasing since DCWP launched an online business settlement portal
- How many days does it take to respond to inspection referrals?: 8 days — decreasing after a new system rollout's integration issues were resolved
- How many days does it take to close investigations – worker protection law?: 104 days — decreasing since a large multi-site case in FY23 gave way to simpler cases
- and 6 more below
What's getting worse
- How many days does it take to close mediations?: 35 days — misses target by 7 days
Critical indicators
With a numeric target
How many days does it take to close mediations?
35 daysMisses target by 7 days
How many days does it take to close mediations?
35 daysMisses target by 7 days
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 31 days | 28 days |
| FY23 | 27 days | 28 days |
| FY24 | 35 days | 28 days |
| FY25 | 29 days | 28 days |
| FY26 (YTD) | 35 days | 28 days |
35 days in FY26 — missed the City's own target for this indicator (7 days above the 28 days target), and it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
The Department of Consumer Affairs, DCWP's predecessor, was created on April 29, 1969 when the City Council passed the landmark Consumer Protection Law, merging the Department of Markets (including Weights and Measures) with the Department of Licensing into one unified agency. It was the country's first municipal consumer protection agency. Today DCWP continues that mandate by licensing businesses, inspecting scales and pricing practices, and enforcing rules like the ban on price gouging during emergencies, which can carry penalties up to $25,000 per violation.
The Country's First Municipal Consumer Protection Agency Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary, New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection - Wikipedia
On average, what is the Licensing Center wait time?
5 minBeats target by 10 min
On average, what is the Licensing Center wait time?
5 minBeats target by 10 min
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 4 min | 15 min |
| FY23 | 3 min | 15 min |
| FY24 | 5 min | 15 min |
| FY25 | 4 min | 15 min |
| FY26 (YTD) | 5 min | 15 min |
This indicator has swung sharply within the lookback window — a simple up/down label would oversimplify it, so no trend badge is shown here. See the chart and table above for the full picture.
Why this is tracked
DCWP's Visiting Inspector Program offers new and existing brick-and-mortar businesses a free, educational visit from a senior inspector to explain relevant regulations and help them avoid violations, rather than issuing citations. The agency also operates a Business Compliance Counsel and a Legal Compliance Helpline so business owners can get direct answers about the consumer protection and licensing laws DCWP enforces. This educational approach reflects the agency's broader mission, dating to the 1969 Consumer Protection Law that created its predecessor, the Department of Consumer Affairs, to foster a fair marketplace for both consumers and honest businesses.
DCWP: Resolve DCWP Issues (Visiting Inspector Program), The Country's First Municipal Consumer Protection Agency Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary
On average, what is the processing time?
2 days — increasing, driven by a 49% surge in license applications that yearBeats target by 2 days
On average, what is the processing time?
2 days — increasing, driven by a 49% surge in license applications that yearBeats target by 2 days
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 1 day | 4 days |
| FY23 | 1 day | 4 days |
| FY24 | 1 day | 4 days |
| FY25 | 2 days | 4 days |
| FY26 (YTD) | 2 days | 4 days |
Median license processing time doubled from one day to two days in fiscal 2025, which DCWP attributes largely to a 49% surge in license applications and renewals that year (partly a function of odd-year renewal cycles for its largest license category). It has held around two days since, still well within the agency's target.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DCWP, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
DCWP's Visiting Inspector Program offers new and existing brick-and-mortar businesses a free, educational visit from a senior inspector to explain relevant regulations and help them avoid violations, rather than issuing citations. The agency also operates a Business Compliance Counsel and a Legal Compliance Helpline so business owners can get direct answers about the consumer protection and licensing laws DCWP enforces. This educational approach reflects the agency's broader mission, dating to the 1969 Consumer Protection Law that created its predecessor, the Department of Consumer Affairs, to foster a fair marketplace for both consumers and honest businesses.
DCWP: Resolve DCWP Issues (Visiting Inspector Program), The Country's First Municipal Consumer Protection Agency Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary
Without a numeric target
What percent of cases settled prior to original hearing date?
68% — increasing since DCWP launched an online business settlement portal
What percent of cases settled prior to original hearing date?
68% — increasing since DCWP launched an online business settlement portal
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 48% |
| FY23 | 42% |
| FY24 | 47% |
| FY25 | 58% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 68% |
The share of cases settled before their original hearing date jumped from the low 40s-50s percent range to 58% in fiscal 2025 and 68% in the first four months of fiscal 2026. DCWP attributes the increase to improvements to its web-based business portal, which now lets businesses enter settlement and pleading agreements online instead of only in person or by mail.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DCWP, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report, DCWP, Fiscal 2026 Preliminary Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
The Department of Consumer Affairs, DCWP's predecessor, was created on April 29, 1969 when the City Council passed the landmark Consumer Protection Law, merging the Department of Markets (including Weights and Measures) with the Department of Licensing into one unified agency. It was the country's first municipal consumer protection agency. Today DCWP continues that mandate by licensing businesses, inspecting scales and pricing practices, and enforcing rules like the ban on price gouging during emergencies, which can carry penalties up to $25,000 per violation.
The Country's First Municipal Consumer Protection Agency Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary, New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection - Wikipedia
What is the License Law – Licensee compliance rate?
91%
What is the License Law – Licensee compliance rate?
91%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 94% |
| FY23 | 96% |
| FY24 | 97% |
| FY25 | 94% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 91% |
91% in FY26 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
The Department of Consumer Affairs, DCWP's predecessor, was created on April 29, 1969 when the City Council passed the landmark Consumer Protection Law, merging the Department of Markets (including Weights and Measures) with the Department of Licensing into one unified agency. It was the country's first municipal consumer protection agency. Today DCWP continues that mandate by licensing businesses, inspecting scales and pricing practices, and enforcing rules like the ban on price gouging during emergencies, which can carry penalties up to $25,000 per violation.
The Country's First Municipal Consumer Protection Agency Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary, New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection - Wikipedia
What is the Tobacco Program – Sale to youth compliance rate?
95%
What is the Tobacco Program – Sale to youth compliance rate?
95%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 90% |
| FY23 | 86% |
| FY24 | 91% |
| FY25 | 95% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 95% |
95% in FY26 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
The Department of Consumer Affairs, DCWP's predecessor, was created on April 29, 1969 when the City Council passed the landmark Consumer Protection Law, merging the Department of Markets (including Weights and Measures) with the Department of Licensing into one unified agency. It was the country's first municipal consumer protection agency. Today DCWP continues that mandate by licensing businesses, inspecting scales and pricing practices, and enforcing rules like the ban on price gouging during emergencies, which can carry penalties up to $25,000 per violation.
The Country's First Municipal Consumer Protection Agency Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary, New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection - Wikipedia
How many days does it take to respond to inspection referrals?
8 days — decreasing after a new system rollout's integration issues were resolved
How many days does it take to respond to inspection referrals?
8 days — decreasing after a new system rollout's integration issues were resolved
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 12 days |
| FY23 | 10 days |
| FY24 | 20 days |
| FY25 | 9 days |
| FY26 (YTD) | 8 days |
Response time to inspection referrals doubled to 20 days in fiscal 2024, which DCWP attributes to rising demand for inspections plus operational and data-integration challenges from rolling out a new Business Automation system that year. Once those integration issues were resolved, response time improved to 9 days in fiscal 2025 and continued dropping to about 7-8 days into fiscal 2026 as data synchronization between DCWP's systems improved.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DCWP, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report, DCWP, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
The Department of Consumer Affairs, DCWP's predecessor, was created on April 29, 1969 when the City Council passed the landmark Consumer Protection Law, merging the Department of Markets (including Weights and Measures) with the Department of Licensing into one unified agency. It was the country's first municipal consumer protection agency. Today DCWP continues that mandate by licensing businesses, inspecting scales and pricing practices, and enforcing rules like the ban on price gouging during emergencies, which can carry penalties up to $25,000 per violation.
The Country's First Municipal Consumer Protection Agency Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary, New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection - Wikipedia
How many days does it take to close investigations – worker protection law?
104 days — decreasing since a large multi-site case in FY23 gave way to simpler cases
How many days does it take to close investigations – worker protection law?
104 days — decreasing since a large multi-site case in FY23 gave way to simpler cases
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 143 days |
| FY23 | 194 days |
| FY24 | 113 days |
| FY25 | 104 days |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
The rise to 194 days in fiscal 2023 coincided with DCWP's settlement of a large, complex case against Chipotle covering roughly 100 store locations and over 9,200 employees, the kind of multi-site investigation that takes longer to close. Median closure time then fell in fiscal 2024 and 2025 as a growing share of investigations involved simpler, faster-resolving app-based delivery-worker pay cases.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DCWP, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report, DCWP, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
New York City became the seventh, and largest, jurisdiction in the country to guarantee paid sick leave when the City Council overrode a mayoral veto to pass the Earned Sick Time Act in 2013, later expanded in 2014 to cover roughly 500,000 more employees. In 2016, the agency's mandate grew further with the creation of the Office of Labor Policy & Standards, its central resource and advocate for workers. That expanded worker-focused role led the agency to rename itself from the Department of Consumer Affairs to the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection in 2019.
NYC's Protected Time Off Law - DCWP, NYC Department of Consumer Affairs Changes Name and Expands Mission
How many navigation cases closed – Freelance Isn't Free cases are there?
623 cases
How many navigation cases closed – Freelance Isn't Free cases are there?
623 cases
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above. The dashed marker projects a full-year estimate at the current year-to-date pace.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 370 cases |
| FY23 | 412 cases |
| FY24 | 382 cases |
| FY25 | 796 cases |
| FY26 (YTD) | 623 cases |
| FY26 (projected) | ~831 cases |
This indicator has swung sharply within the lookback window — a simple up/down label would oversimplify it, so no trend badge is shown here. See the chart and table above for the full picture.
Why this is tracked
New York City became the seventh, and largest, jurisdiction in the country to guarantee paid sick leave when the City Council overrode a mayoral veto to pass the Earned Sick Time Act in 2013, later expanded in 2014 to cover roughly 500,000 more employees. In 2016, the agency's mandate grew further with the creation of the Office of Labor Policy & Standards, its central resource and advocate for workers. That expanded worker-focused role led the agency to rename itself from the Department of Consumer Affairs to the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection in 2019.
NYC's Protected Time Off Law - DCWP, NYC Department of Consumer Affairs Changes Name and Expands Mission
How many businesses engagement and outreach events are there?
103 events — increasing, with a FY25 jump tied to promoting a free tax-prep program
How many businesses engagement and outreach events are there?
103 events — increasing, with a FY25 jump tied to promoting a free tax-prep program
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 61 events |
| FY23 | 63 events |
| FY24 | 86 events |
| FY25 | 103 events |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
Business outreach and engagement events grew steadily and then jumped 20% in fiscal 2025 to 103, which DCWP attributes mainly to expanded direct outreach promoting its free Self-Employed Tax Preparation program for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DCWP, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
DCWP's Visiting Inspector Program offers new and existing brick-and-mortar businesses a free, educational visit from a senior inspector to explain relevant regulations and help them avoid violations, rather than issuing citations. The agency also operates a Business Compliance Counsel and a Legal Compliance Helpline so business owners can get direct answers about the consumer protection and licensing laws DCWP enforces. This educational approach reflects the agency's broader mission, dating to the 1969 Consumer Protection Law that created its predecessor, the Department of Consumer Affairs, to foster a fair marketplace for both consumers and honest businesses.
DCWP: Resolve DCWP Issues (Visiting Inspector Program), The Country's First Municipal Consumer Protection Agency Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary
What percent of clients achieving a financial goal within their first year of receiving counseling?
29.7%
What percent of clients achieving a financial goal within their first year of receiving counseling?
29.7%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 20% |
| FY23 | 22% |
| FY24 | 23% |
| FY25 | 29.7% |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
29.7% in FY25 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
The Office of Financial Empowerment, launched in 2006 within the Department of Consumer Affairs (now DCWP), was the first local-government initiative in the country dedicated to educating, empowering and protecting people with low incomes. Its Financial Empowerment Centers, which opened starting in 2008, provide free one-on-one financial counseling and have served tens of thousands of New Yorkers, helping clients reduce debt and build savings. The program responds to a persistent problem: DCWP's own research has repeatedly found hundreds of thousands of NYC households are unbanked or underbanked, concentrated in the city's lowest-income communities.
Q&A with Cathie Mahon, head of the Office of Financial Empowerment - Center for an Urban Future, DCWP Releases Updated Research Brief: 238,900 Households in NYC Are Unbanked