Illegal car washes on the sides of streets have begun to pop up across the five boroughs, and the City Council addressed the ongoing issue on Tuesday.  

Council Member Rafael Salamanca says that the illegal businesses are a "nuisance in our community."

"What has been on the rise in terms of complaints in my office are these illegal carwashes,” said Salamanca. "In essence they're running a business utilizing city resources, without putting their fair share back into the city. As a result, we have vans that are parked there 24 hours a day, seven days a week, they do not move for alternate side parking." 

The vehicles are also responsible for halting the city’s Department of Sanitation to properly clean the streets, and that many of these car washes block off fire hydrants and create safety concerns.  

The newly proposed bill from Salamanca would start with informing the businesses on how to legally obtain a license. Those car washes will have 30 days to take action before DSNY is given the authority to remove the vehicles and impose a fine on the business owners.  

City Council members will discuss any potential changes with the DSNY before a date to pass the legislation is decided with Mayor Eric Adams.