NYC DOT Releases Outdoor Dining Rules

Originally published on February 5, 2024; updated on February 22, 2024.

On Friday, February 2, 2024, NYC’s Department of Transportation (DOT) released the final rules for the City’s permanent outdoor dining program, "Dining Out NYC” (full press release here). The adopted rules offer restaurant owners clear guidance on how to create the new set-ups before the program launches in March 2024. The rules include the granting of licenses and revocable consents for sidewalk and roadway cafes, operational requirements and siting and design criteria for sidewalk and roadway seating areas, and enforcement procedures.

The Lincoln Square BID was pleased to see that DOT incorporated recommendations from property owners and us in the updated rules. They now include explicit language about global corridors with arcades: “the minimum width of the required clear path must be 8 feet for any sidewalk café adjacent to an arcade that provides at least 6 feet of an unobstructed path for the length of the block.” This language means that “Restaurant Row” (Broadway between W 63^rd and W 64^th) can continue to enliven our neighborhood!

The application portal to apply for the permanent Dining Out NYC program will open in March 2024 and approved applicants will install their new setups in spring/summer 2024. In the meantime, you can begin preparing your site plans by visiting the program website, reading the full text of the adopted rule, and viewing the setup guidelines. DOT also created a page of resources for restaurants that includes a financial planning tool meant to help business operators determine if they should join the program.

To learn more, you can also attend an industry wide webinar on Dining Out by DOT on February 26 at 11:00am (register here) or join DOT for an in-person presentation at the NYC Hospitality Alliance's State of the Industry Conference on Tuesday, March 5th at 2:00pm at the Javits Center (register here). 

Want to make sure you stay updated on the latest news from DOT? Fill out this form to be added to Dining Out NYC’s contact registry. If you have further questions, you can also reach out to DiningOutNYC@dot.nyc.gov or call 212-839-4500.

Photo Credit: Dining Out NYC