The official season for outdoor dining is beginning, giving New Yorkers the chance to enjoy their meals in the spring weather.

Restaurants can once again expand onto the streets starting on Wednesday. It’s part of the city’s “Dining Out NYC” program that runs until Nov. 29.

While sidewalk cafes are allowed year-round, this allows restaurants to place tables and seating directly in a safe part of the street. Many New Yorkers became used to these dining sheds during the pandemic. 

But some residents say the setups take up too much space and reduce parking. At the same time, city officials are pushing to make roadway dining a year-round option. They also want to simplify what could be a complicated approval process. 

NYC outdoor dining near me

About 1,800 setups are eligible under the program, according to the Department of Transportation.

The DOT maintains three separate lists on its website for people to figure out which restaurants across the city have been approved for outdoor dining this season. 

There is an interactive map with a search feature to find establishments with a license.

The second is a list of restaurants that received conditional approval for roadway cafes, as of March 25. 

Lastly, there is a list of places that applied by an  Aug. 3, 2024, deadline, but their applications are still under review.

NYC outdoor dining guidelines and rules

The city has several requirements for outdoor dining. There are rules for cleanliness, specific setup areas, the size of the structure, and requirements for easy assembly and removal. 

They are allowed to operate seven days a week from 10 a.m. to midnight on Sundays and 8 a.m. to midnight every other day of the week. 

Areas must be kept “clean, well-maintained, and clear of trash, debris, graffiti, vermin, food scraps, and unsanitary conditions,” the DOT website says. 

Restaurants that don’t comply are given 30 days to correct the violation before facing a $200 fine. Second and subsequent offenses face a $500 fine, and repeat offenders risk having their licenses suspended or revoked. 

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