DOT Will Allow NYC Restaurants To Set Up Outdoor Dining Next Week

NEW YORK CITY — The New York City Department of Transportation announced on Tuesday that that approved restaurants can begin installing roadway setups next week on March 25.

Roadway outdoor dining in the city will officially begin on April 1 and run through Nov. 29, officials said.

“Spring is in the air, and New Yorkers are ready to enjoy dining al fresco,” DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said. “Today, we’re reminding all establishments with approvals to operate that they can begin constructing roadway setups next week so they’re ready to serve customers on April 1.”

In total, 2,600 establishments have approval to operate on roadways or sidewalks as part of Dining Out NYC, the city’s outdoor dining program.

As established by the City Council, restaurants can operate sidewalk setups year-round, while roadway dining operates seasonally.

The vast majority of sidewalk applicants are already allowed to operate as their applications are pending, officials said.

By April 1, NYC DOT estimates 600 roadway dining applicants and another roughly 2,000 sidewalk applicants will be able to operate.

The DOT has received more than 3,400 Dining Out NYC applications from more than 3,000 restaurants.

For restaurants interested in participating in the Dining Out NYC program, DOT created a marketplace that serves as a directory for businesses that sell or rent compliant outdoor dining set-up and services.