The new Dining Out NYC regulations for restaurants come into force on Friday, forcing the removal of outdoor dining shelters throughout New York City.
Otherwise, after the Black Friday deadline, restaurant operators risk fines of up to $1,000 for each infraction.
From April through November, Dining Out NYC permits street-level outdoor dining structures.
Roadway dining structures are only allowed from April 1 to November 29 under the city’s new regulation. However, sidewalk cafes outside can continue to run all year long.
Restaurants are now have to apply for an outside eating permit and follow certain guidelines, such as making sure the structures are simple to put together and take down. Applications for the permits are open at all times.
The new outdoor dining program is being implemented under the direction of the New York City Department of Transportation. Over 3,600 applications have been submitted to the department thus far, which is more than twice as many as the program had before COVID.
The dining sheds were criticized by some New Yorkers for being an annoyance, drawing rodents, clogging sidewalks, and stealing important parking spots.
According to several restaurant operators, the buildings that were constructed during the COVID pandemic were (and still are) an essential lifeline to increase seats and boost sales.
Owners of restaurants who leave up sheds risk heavy fines.
Some restaurant owners might not be able to meet the deadline as the clock runs out on them to take down their outdoor eating sets on the roads, which have been a familiar sight in all five boroughs for years.
Eric Lima, a manager at the Upper West Side’s Old John’s Luncheonette, stated, “We’re going to take it down by the next Friday.”
For the past three years, the eating shed has been a cozy fixture on West 67th Street. According to the owner, he hasn’t yet located a demolition company and could face fines from the city for each day it stays up.
The first offense carries a $500 fine, while subsequent offenses carry $1,000 fines.
It will cost roughly $20,000 to dismantle the shed, which Old John’s Luncheonette paid $25,000 to build. According to Lima, next year the owner will reapply for outside dining and a shed that can be folded up.
On April 1, 2025, restaurants with permits can reassemble their outdoor eating areas.
Read Also: ‘She Shattered My Family’: Woman Kills Husband Before Ending Her Own Life in Hallandale Beach
Permanent outdoor dining in New Jersey
Meanwhile, earlier this week, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy approved legislation that will permanently allow outdoor dining in the Garden State.
Restaurants, bars, breweries, and other businesses are subject to regulations. Companies who previously only had temporary permits can now obtain permanent ones and renew them once a year.
Murphy claimed that both customers and companies have benefited from outside dining.
