This week, Councilmember Sandra Ung introduced legislation that would require the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), or, where applicable, the Department of Small Business Services (SBS), to notify local community boards and Councilmembers within five days of any stoop line stand license application being filed. Stoop line stands allow businesses to display merchandise on sidewalks in front of their stores within defined parameters and guidelines.

Intro 1113 aims to improve community oversight and help prevent sidewalk congestion and public safety issues in retail corridors across New York City. The legislation is particularly important for Councilmember Ung’s district in downtown Flushing, where unlicensed or improperly managed stoop line stands contribute significantly to overcrowding and congestion on some of New York’s busiest sidewalks. By ensuring that elected officials and community boards are promptly informed of new stoop line stand applications, the bill would give communities the opportunity to provide input on potential safety or congestion concerns, such as proximity to busy intersections or bus stops.

“The addition of this notification requirement will empower communities with the information they need to weigh in on how public spaces are used and ensure that they’re safe and accessible,” said Councilmember Sandra Ung. “In Flushing, we’ve seen firsthand how improper use of sidewalks – whether through unlicensed stoop line stands or stands that extend too far into pedestrian spaces – creates challenges for residents, particularly seniors and those with limited mobility. This bill will help us reduce these issues in Flushing and other retail corridors across the five boroughs.”

In recent years, unlicensed vending and sidewalk encroachment have contributed to congestion issues in many neighborhoods, creating obstacles for pedestrians and straining small business owners who operate within the law. With this new legislation, community boards, elected officials, and residents will have a clear understanding of which businesses are applying to operate stoop line stands and whether those applications comply with city guidelines.

“This bill brings a common-sense approach to sidewalk management,” said Councilmember Ung. “By providing timely updates on stoop line stand applications, we’re ensuring that communities are actively involved in preserving their neighborhoods’ character and walkability. Safe and accessible sidewalks benefit not only residents, but also businesses that rely on foot traffic. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this legislation and bring these benefits to communities citywide.”

If passed, Intro 1113 will enable more responsive and effective oversight of stoop line stands throughout New York City, promoting walkability and ensuring that sidewalks remain safe, navigable spaces for all, as well enhance transparency in how our public sidewalks are being managed.

In February, Councilmember Ung introduced legislation that would suspend or revoke the stoop stand license of any person or business found to have committed five or more violations within a 12-month period. A suspension would last for up to one year, while a revocation would render a person ineligible to apply for a new stoop stand license for one year after the revocation.