The New York City Department of Transportation is streamlining the outdoor dining application process by granting conditional approvals to hundreds of restaurants ahead of the upcoming roadway dining season.
The move will allow food service establishments to operate roadway dining setups when the season begins on April 1, according to a press release.
The DOT has been sending conditional approval letters to all roadway dining applicants that have completed a legally mandated public hearing since Monday. The approvals are intended to cut through red tape and ensure restaurants can begin operations on time. Sidewalk-based outdoor dining setups, already permitted year-round, will continue to operate while their applications remain under review.
“New Yorkers love outdoor dining and it has made our streets more vibrant and welcoming public spaces,” said DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “Outdoor dining on our sidewalks and roadways has been a lifeline for many restaurants, and we are cutting through red tape to ensure that thousands of restaurants will be up and running as the weather warms.”
Since the launch of the program, the city has received nearly 3,800 applications from over 3,000 restaurants. The DOT will allow 3,000 sidewalk and roadway dining setups to operate this season.
More than 2,300 sidewalk cafe applicants can already operate compliant setups while awaiting final approval, and roughly 800 roadway cafe applicants will now be eligible to open on April 1.
The outdoor dining program operates seasonally from April 1 to Nov. 29.
