Bill > A07598

This bill requires municipalities that currently allow sidewalk and roadway cafes to permit these outdoor dining spaces to operate year-round. The bill defines a "roadway cafe" as an open-air dining area located in the curb or parking lane of a street in front of a restaurant, and a "sidewalk cafe" as a dining area on a public sidewalk or sidewalk widening adjacent to a restaurant. While mandating year-round operation, the bill also allows municipalities to maintain their authority to create regulations related to public health and safety, such as rules about street cleaning, structural design, snow removal, and ensuring pedestrian access. This legislation aims to support restaurants by giving them more flexibility in outdoor dining operations, particularly in the wake of pandemic-era dining adaptations that expanded outdoor eating spaces. The bill would apply to cities, towns, and villages that already have existing regulations permitting sidewalk and roadway cafes, effectively requiring them to remove any seasonal restrictions on these dining areas.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A7598