The New York City Council is considering a proposal to make outdoor dining a permanent feature of the city's culinary scene.
A City Council bill released Thursday proposed the city create a licensing structure to allow outdoor dining sheds to remain in roadways from April through November.
Mayor Eric Adams voiced support for the bill – which has yet to be approved by the full Council – in a statement saying the proposal will make permanent a program that “saved 100,000 jobs and countless local restaurants, while helping the city reimagine its public spaces.”
“With this bill, we will create a permanent, year-round outdoor dining program that will support our small businesses, create jobs for New Yorkers, and keep our streets and communities vibrant,” he added.
Under the bill, sidewalk cafes would be permitted year-round for a reduced fee compared to pre-pandemic pricing. It would also create basic design guidelines for roadway dining sheds, and mandate that they be dismantled during the winter months.
The Transportation Department would be in charge of enforcement and licensing, according to the bill.
The City Council is expected to vote on the bill in June.
“In creating a permanent outdoor dining program, the Council has prioritized fixing some of the greatest obstacles to outdoor dining prior to the pandemic that limited restaurants and neighborhoods throughout our city from equitably participating and benefiting. We have been centering affordability for our prized small businesses in these efforts, while ensuring that a permanent outdoor dining program for our city strikes the right balance for restaurants, neighborhoods, and all New Yorkers,” City Council press secretary Breeana Mulligan said in a statement.
Adams said the city will continue to remove abandoned dining sheds throughout the five boroughs. New Yorkers who see abandoned structures should report them to 311.