Under the Smoke-Free Air Act of 2002, serving or smoking shisha containing tobacco is prohibited in NYC restaurants and bars. In 2018, establishments are banned from serving or smoking non-tobacco shisha unless they have obtained a permit to operate as a non-tobacco hookah establishment.
Starting a Hookah Bar in NYC
How do I open a hookah lounge in NYC? To start a hookah bar in New York City you will need to get a waiver of the NYC clean indoor air act. You will also need a business license, business registration, a marketing plan and a good location.
Laws about Hookah Smoking
New NYC laws about hookah went into effect in 2018. Retail stores and other establishments are banned from selling or serving shisha to people younger than 21.
Health Concerns and Legislation
Health care providers should report possible cases of carbon monoxide poisoning associated with hookah use to the NYC Poison Control Center at 212-POISONS.
Young people (ages 18 to 20) in NYC are three times more likely to smoke a hookah than those who are 21 and older. In 2018, 0.8% of middle school students and 5.6% of high school students smoked hookah.
The legislation adds “hookah” to the city’s indoor smoking ban — allowing existing spots to stay open only if at least half their sales are from hookahs and they get a permit. Under the new law, hookah bars that get to stay open will not be allowed to expand or change locations.
According to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, it is illegal to smoke tobacco products in indoor public places including bars and restaurants.
The reason behind such measures is simple – safeguarding public health.
How to Establish a Hookah Business
Can I get a hookah license in NYC? To start a hookah bar in New York City you will need to get a waiver of the NYC clean indoor air act. You will also need a business license, business registration, a marketing plan and a good location. The annual fee for the permit is $25.
Create a business plan. Write down the general idea of your hookah bar including the location in NYC, the target market, the financial costs to start, and an analysis of the competition. Most hookah bars in NYC are clustered in Manhattan. Detail a plan to differentiate yourself from these other bars in your business plan.
Find funding. Your initial start-up costs will be very high around furniture and equipment. Rent costs in NYC are also very high, especially around Manhattan. Expect to find financing to cover at least one year of operational expenses.
The deadline to apply for a non-Tobacco hookah establishment is closed to all new applicants. Existing permit holders may now renew their Non-Tobacco Hookah Establishment Permit online.
People younger than 21 are not permitted to enter hookah-serving establishments.
Entrepreneurs will eventually be able to apply to the state for licenses to open storefront dispensaries, hookah bar-style consumption lounges, bakeries, restaurants, yoga studios, hotels, and wellness centers, as long as they don’t sell alcohol on the premises.
You’ll need to contact the NYC Department of Health to get a hookah license in NYC. They will provide you with a list of requirements you’ll need to meet to obtain a permit.
New NYC laws about hookah went into effect in 2018. It is now required for all hookah-serving establishments to have a permit, only serve non-tobacco shisha, and display warning signs about the health risks of hookah smoke.