Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed a bill Monday allowing restaurants in the city to operate outdoor dining year-round. Street cafes had been limited to April through November.
“Today’s bill is reflective of a different policy choice — one that will make New York City feel even more alive than it currently does,” Mamdani said Monday. “This legislation will make it possible for small businesses to keep those structures up year-round, as well as allow the use of weatherproofing and winterizing materials needed to operate outdoor dining through the slush and chill of winter.”
The mayor heard testimony Monday from owners about the impact year-round outdoor dining could have on small businesses. He said he wants to work with restaurants to eliminate bureaucratic red tape and make having an outdoor dining structure more affordable.
The legislation also establishes sanitation standards and operating hours for both sidewalk cafes and roadway dining sheds.