The New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) has issued a final reminder to all food establishments with outdoor dining setups. These businesses must apply for the new Dining Out NYC program by 11:59 PM on Saturday, August 3, or face fines and the removal of their setups. Establishments that miss the deadline will incur a $500 fine for the first offense and $1,000 for each subsequent offense.
NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez emphasized the importance of the program, stating, “Outdoor dining enriches our communities, and we’re excited to make it a permanent feature of New York City streets. Our new outdoor dining program is the largest and best in America, and I encourage all interested restaurants to apply.”
Chief Public Realm Officer Ya-Ting Liu added, “Outdoor dining is here to stay and it’s getting a makeover so we can all enjoy cleaner, easier setups. Don’t wait till the last minute to apply – get your applications in now for the August 3 deadline.”