New NYC Rules for Contracted Delivery Workers: What Restaurants Need to Know about Food Delivery Service Apps in 2026

Effective Date: January 26, 2026

Agency: NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)

New York City has introduced a new set of rules that directly impact restaurants in NYC and businesses that work with third-party food delivery services and grocery delivery platforms. These regulations, adopted by the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), aim to strengthen protections for contracted delivery workers, improve minimum pay standards, and increase transparency and compliance across delivery platforms operating in New York City.

Understanding these NYC delivery worker laws is essential for restaurant owners, hospitality groups, and food service businesses that rely on food delivery apps as part of their daily operations.

Why These New NYC Delivery Rules Matter

The newly adopted regulations implement and reinforce several New York City local laws passed in 2025, all of which directly affect the food delivery and grocery delivery industry. These rules are designed to improve:

• Worker rights for contracted delivery workers

• Minimum pay protections for grocery delivery workers

• Recordkeeping and compliance requirements

• Tipping transparency on third-party delivery platforms

While the rules primarily regulate third-party food delivery services, restaurants should be aware of these changes, as they influence how delivery platforms operate and interact with both delivery workers and customers in NYC.

Key Objectives of the New DCWP Regulations

The DCWP rules focus on five core areas that restaurants and delivery platforms should understand:

1. Protections for Contracted Delivery Workers

The rules implement provisions from Local Law 123 of 2025, establishing new protections for contracted delivery workers in NYC. These measures aim to ensure fair treatment, consistent standards, and clearer obligations across food delivery platforms.

2. Minimum Pay Standards for Grocery Delivery Workers

Under Local Law 124 of 2025, the regulations establish minimum pay requirements for grocery delivery workers, helping ensure fair and predictable compensation within the NYC grocery delivery market.

3. Mandatory Record Retention for Tipping Transparency

To enforce Local Laws 107 and 108 of 2025, third-party food and grocery delivery services must retain specific records related to customer tipping practices. These laws require platforms to provide customers with a clear opportunity to tip delivery workers, increasing transparency and accountability.

4. Written Pay Statements for Delivery Workers

The rules also enforce Local Law 113 of 2025, which grants contracted delivery workers the right to receive written pay statements. Delivery platforms must retain records that demonstrate compliance with NYC pay statement requirements.

5. Updated Legal Definitions Under NYC Law

Finally, the regulations reflect new and amended definitions introduced in Local Laws 95, 123, and 124 of 2025, ensuring consistency across New York City’s legal framework governing food delivery services and worker protections.

What This Means for Restaurants in NYC

Although these rules primarily regulate delivery platforms, restaurants that partner with third-party delivery apps should take proactive steps to reduce risk and ensure compliance:

• Stay informed about how delivery partners comply with NYC delivery worker regulations

• Expect increased transparency around tipping policies and worker compensation

• Review contracts and operational practices with third-party food delivery services

• Work with legal or compliance advisors familiar with NYC restaurant and labor laws

Final Thoughts

With food delivery continuing to be a critical revenue channel for many New York City restaurants, compliance awareness is more important than ever. These new NYC delivery worker rules reflect the city’s ongoing efforts to protect delivery workers while increasing accountability for delivery platforms.

Restaurants that stay informed and proactive will be better positioned to adapt smoothly when these regulations take effect on January 26, 2026.

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