So Long, Sheds: NYC's Outdoor Dining Program Signed Into Law

NEW YORK CITY — New York City restaurants officially have to shed their sheds once the city's now-permanent outdoor dining program kicks off in 2024.

Mayor Eric Adams signed the long-awaited program — newly dubbed "Dining Out NYC" — into law Wednesday after its recent passage by the City Council.

"Dining Out NYC will be the largest in the nation and reshape New York City streets forever," he said.

But New Yorkers likely won't see many changes to outdoor dining until after this summer.

Restaurants will continue under the temporary, pandemic-era program's rules that allowed sometimes-ramshackle, sometimes-elaborate "dining sheds" to dot the city's streets until this fall, officials said.

Such roadway sheds will only be allowed eight months a year under the permanent program, which also requires them to be open-air and easier to move than before, officials said.

"We won't have 'sheds' going forward," said Meera Joshi, the city's deputy mayor for operations.

Sidewalk dining will be allowed year-round under the program, officials said.

Eateries will have to apply to the permanent program later this year or early 2024 after new rules are finalized if they want to continue outdoor dining, officials said.

New setups will start being built in 2024, officials said.