NYC Council Speaker Julie Menin has vowed to overhaul the city's outdoor dining program, promising to bring back year-round street "sheds" for restaurants. The move would provide relief to business owners who have struggled with the restrictive rules and high fees imposed on the program after it was revamped by former Mayor Eric Adams.
As part of the new plan, Menin wants to streamline the application process and make the program more sustainable, according to a spokesperson. This means that businesses would be able to set up their street sheds 365 days a year, rather than being required to take them down during certain months.
The shift in policy comes after years of controversy surrounding the outdoor dining program. When it was first introduced as an emergency measure during the pandemic, many praised its ability to provide relief to struggling restaurants. However, some community groups and residents began to voice concerns about the sheds taking up parking spaces and generating noise and rat-related issues.
To address these concerns, Adams imposed new rules on the program in 2024. Businesses were required to apply for a new program called Dining Out NYC, pay fees, and dismantle their outdoor setups from late November to April 1. The move was seen as overly burdensome by many restaurant owners, who cited the high costs of building and deconstructing compliant structures every year.
Following this pushback, Councilmember Lincoln Restler introduced a bill in October that would restore the year-round roadway program. Menin has been a cosponsor of Restler's bill and supports its framework, according to her spokesperson.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani also expressed support for a year-round program at an unrelated press conference. Industry leaders are breathing a sigh of relief as Andrew Rigie, executive director of the New York City Hospitality Alliance, praised Menin's comments, saying his group looks forward to working with the Council to reform the program in a fair and sustainable way.
The outdoor dining landscape is expected to change significantly under this new plan, as business owners and residents look forward to more flexible rules. However, it remains to be seen how the city will balance its need for revenue generation with the concerns of local communities.
As part of the new plan, Menin wants to streamline the application process and make the program more sustainable, according to a spokesperson. This means that businesses would be able to set up their street sheds 365 days a year, rather than being required to take them down during certain months.
The shift in policy comes after years of controversy surrounding the outdoor dining program. When it was first introduced as an emergency measure during the pandemic, many praised its ability to provide relief to struggling restaurants. However, some community groups and residents began to voice concerns about the sheds taking up parking spaces and generating noise and rat-related issues.
To address these concerns, Adams imposed new rules on the program in 2024. Businesses were required to apply for a new program called Dining Out NYC, pay fees, and dismantle their outdoor setups from late November to April 1. The move was seen as overly burdensome by many restaurant owners, who cited the high costs of building and deconstructing compliant structures every year.
Following this pushback, Councilmember Lincoln Restler introduced a bill in October that would restore the year-round roadway program. Menin has been a cosponsor of Restler's bill and supports its framework, according to her spokesperson.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani also expressed support for a year-round program at an unrelated press conference. Industry leaders are breathing a sigh of relief as Andrew Rigie, executive director of the New York City Hospitality Alliance, praised Menin's comments, saying his group looks forward to working with the Council to reform the program in a fair and sustainable way.
The outdoor dining landscape is expected to change significantly under this new plan, as business owners and residents look forward to more flexible rules. However, it remains to be seen how the city will balance its need for revenue generation with the concerns of local communities.
The idea of year-round street sheds in NYC sounds like a game-changer for restaurants! I can imagine how stressful it must've been for business owners to deal with restrictive rules and high fees. It's about time they get some relief 
. Now, if the city can figure out a way to make this program sustainable without sacrificing community concerns, that'd be a win-win 
.
. It's about time we see some relief for those restaurants who are struggling under all these rules and high fees. I mean, come on, it's been like 2 years since they were introduced and you'd think the city would be more understanding by now. But honestly, I can relate to the noise and rat issues - I live in a small apartment in Brooklyn and sometimes those sheds can get pretty loud 
.
I think it's about time the city lets restaurants have a break from all these restrictions! It's been years since outdoor dining was first introduced as an emergency measure, and now it's crazy to see how much it's changed the way businesses operate. 
The year-round street "sheds" would be a huge relief for owners who are struggling with the high fees and hassle of dismantling their setups every year.
about this news! Business owners are totally gonna love having year-round street sheds 
. The city is finally listening to the restaurant owners who were fed up with all those rules 
. Menin's plan sounds like a total game-changer 
for the outdoor dining scene in NYC. Let's hope it works out smoothly and brings more life to our streets 
. Less drama, more foodie fun 
!
. I mean, who doesn't want to be able to enjoy their outdoor space 365 days a year? 
The fact that Mayor Mamdani is on board with Menin's plan is a huge win for industry leaders like Andrew Rigie 
. Now, let's hope the city can strike the right balance between revenue generation and community concerns 
I'm glad to see some relief coming to restaurants in NYC... The current outdoor dining setup is already so impractical 
, especially during winter months. Having 'sheds' all year round would make sense 
. And what about the noise pollution? It's not just about the restaurants, it's about the whole neighborhood. Can we really make this sustainable without causing more problems than solutions? 
. It sounds like the new plan would bring back those year-round street "sheds" that business owners were loving before, but got taken away from them due to all the extra rules and fees under Mayor Adams 
And if Menin can streamline the application process and make it more sustainable, that would be a huge win for both the businesses and the community 
. So hopefully, Menin's new plan can find that sweet spot where everyone wins 
. It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out - fingers crossed for a smoother (and less stressful) outdoor dining experience! 
and i am SO here for it 
. no more having to take down those adorable little structures every few months because of the rules 
. plus, menin's plan to streamline the app process and make the program more sustainable sounds like a total game-changer 
. let's hope this new plan works out and brings some relief to our fave nyc restaurants 
. Year-round street "sheds" would be a total game-changer for them, especially during the colder months when outdoor seating is all but impossible. And can you imagine how much money they could save not having to constantly set up and tear down their setups every year? 
.
. It's not just about the business owners getting relief, but also about finding a balance between revenue generation for the city and community concerns 
. Let's hope the city doesn't get too greedy though 
.
️ - that's kinda what Menin is proposing: a year-round outdoor dining program that brings back those street "sheds" 
.
and rats 
, which kinda... crushed the spirit of helping small businesses 
.
- more sustainable, easier to apply, and all that jazz 
. Industry leaders seem on board 
they've been through so much lately...I think this new plan is a good start tho