New York City restaurants can now keep their roadway dining setups in place year-round after Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed legislation making permanent outdoor dining on city streets.
The legislation, Int. 0655, sponsored by Council Member Lincoln Restler, changes rules for restaurants participating in the city’s Dining Out NYC program. Previously, roadway dining setups had to be removed between Nov. 30 and March 31, while sidewalk cafes were not subject to the same seasonal requirement.
The new law gives restaurants more flexibility to operate outdoor dining spaces throughout the year and eliminates the need to dismantle and rebuild roadway setups each season. For Brooklyn restaurants, where outdoor dining has become a familiar part of neighborhood commercial corridors, the change could provide more consistent access to additional seating and reduce seasonal costs.
“Outdoor dining transformed our city once before, and now we are making sure it has a permanent place in New York City,” said Mamdani.
The program grew significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when outdoor seating helped restaurants continue serving customers while indoor dining was restricted. The permanent program now provides a framework for restaurants to continue using roadway spaces beyond the warmer months.
The New York City Department of Transportation will develop rules in the coming months for restaurants to temporarily winterize roadway dining setups. Those rules are expected to address how structures can remain functional during colder weather while maintaining accessibility and the design standards of the program.
“Our entrepreneurs deserve a city that creates pathways for them to grow, adapt and succeed. Int. 0655 gives them greater flexibility to serve their neighbors, grow their businesses and create opportunity year-round,” said Council Member Shanel Thomas-Henry.
Restaurants participating in Dining Out NYC will receive additional guidance as NYC DOT establishes the winterization requirements. The new rules will determine how roadway dining structures can be adapted for winter while remaining part of the city’s year-round outdoor dining program.
For Brooklyn diners and restaurant owners, the legislation means roadway dining no longer has to disappear when winter arrives.
