New York City restaurants can now keep their outdoor roadway dining setups open all year after Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed new legislation on Monday.
The decision reverses a previous rule enacted under former Mayor Eric Adams that forced small business owners to tear down their outdoor dining tents during the winter months.
To host the public hearing, Mamdani transformed the Blue Room at City Hall into a themed Italian pizzeria featuring red-checked tablecloths, string lights, salt and pepper shakers, and a rose.
READ: Mamdani unveils 30% discounts at planned NYC grocery store (July 27, 2026)
Following the hearing, the mayor signed the bill into law outdoor cafe behind City Hall, stating the move reflects a policy choice meant to make the city feel “even more alive.”
Supporters praised the law as a vital effort to assist local businesses. James Kwon, owner of the Village Square Pizza chain, called the decision one of the biggest moves to help small businesses in years. “We rarely see anything being done to help small businesses and I really feel like this is one of the biggest things that’s happened in years,” he expressed.
Andrew Rigie, executive director of the New York City Hospitality Alliance, noted that the previous rule made no sense. “The cost to pay to set up your roadway cafe, pay to break it down, pay to store it, only to then pay again to set it back up, just didn’t make financial sense,” he said.
READ: Mamdani calls wife Rama Duwaji an ‘oasis,’ is that really a compliment in 2026? (August 15, 2026)
However, community residents expressed strong opposition and concern during the process over the matter.
Carol Putre-Czyz of the East Fifth Street Block Association criticized the measure, raising concerns about noise, heavy traffic congestion on streets narrowed by bike and bus lanes, and rats.
She also warned that unattended kiosks lead to issues with unhoused individuals taking over the spaces, drug dealing, and other illegal activity, questioning whether city leadership lives above outdoor dining kiosks.
Despite those complaints, the new law removes winter teardown requirements, officially establishing year-round street dining across New York City.