Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
NYC's outdoor dining regulations could face Council vote this week
By
Michelle Bocanegra
Published Aug 2, 2023
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Getty Images
By
Michelle Bocanegra
Published Aug 2, 2023
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The New York City Council is likely to vote Thursday on a permanent framework to make outdoor dining a fixture of city life after months of litigation, protest and uncertainty over the bill’s fate.
The bill, sponsored by Council Member Marjorie Velázquez with vocal support from Mayor Eric Adams, has gone through multiple revisions since it was first introduced in February of last year, as the Adams administration and Council members have spent more than a year in negotiations for a permanent setup.
In the latest version, roadway cafes will be allowed from April until the end of November. Sidewalk seating will be authorized for restaurants year-round with the proper permitting, which covers a four-year period. Curb-based roadway seating will require a separate permit spanning the same length of time, with each permit costing $1,050, according to the bill text.
The program will be overseen by the city Department of Transportation. A spokesperson for Velázquez did not immediately provide comment Thursday morning.
Adams has voiced strong support for outdoor dining, which operated on a temporary basis under the Open Restaurants program throughout the public health emergency under Covid-19. The New York City Hospitality Alliance, which represents 24,000 eating and drinking establishments across the five boroughs, has also been itching for certainty on the future of outdoor dining.
The negotiations process has also been mired in litigation from opponents of outdoor dining, including residents complaining of noise and sanitation issues as well as disability rights activists who rely on cars.
Tagged
new york city
economy
Politics
outdoor dining
Michelle Bocanegra
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYPD ramping up presence before, during and after Dominican Day parade
City officials said that there were no credible threats surrounding the parade as of Friday.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Aug 7, 2026 at 4:31 p.m. ET
Reading scores in NYC schools dip amid literacy instruction overhaul
Only half of students scored proficient in reading on the tests.
By
Jessica Gould
News
Reading scores in NYC schools dip amid literacy instruction overhaul
Only half of students scored proficient in reading on the tests.
By
Jessica Gould
New lawsuit slams Mamdani's pied-à-terre tax for creating 'mass confusion'
By
Elizabeth Kim
Nasty-hot temperatures now expected all weekend in NYC
By
Rosemary Misdary
Extra Extra: Northeast's early winter weather forecast is 'complicated'
By
James Ramsay
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .