File #: Int 1446-2025    Version: * Name: Expanding access to sidewalk and roadway cafe applications.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
On agenda: 10/29/2025
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to expanding access to sidewalk and roadway cafe applications
Sponsors: Lincoln Restler, Julie Menin, Farah N. Louis
Council Member Sponsors: 3
Summary: This bill would require the Department of Transportation to issue and receive applications to operate a sidewalk cafe and roadway cafe online and at a physical location accessible to the public. This bill would also allow applicants to save partially filled-out online applications in order to complete the application at a later date.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1446, 2. Int. No. 1446, 3. October 29, 2025 - Stated Meeting Agenda

Int. No. 1446

 

By Council Members Restler, Menin and Louis

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to expanding access to sidewalk and roadway cafe applications

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Subdivision b of section 19-160.1 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by local law number 121 for the year 2023, is amended to read as follows: 

b. The petition shall be in such form as prescribed by rules of the department and shall include an accurate drawing depicting required clearances, the space to be occupied, and the locations of tables, chairs, barriers and other permitted objects; provided, however, that the department shall not require that such drawing be developed, reviewed or approved by an architect, engineer, or other professional third party. The petition shall be made available to the public and completed petitions shall be received by the department, both online and at a physical location accessible to the public at either a department facility or a facility operated by the department of small business services. Petitioners shall be able to receive relevant information at such physical location pertaining to their application. Petitioners shall be able to save and return to an incomplete online application prior to submitting such petition for review by the department. The petition shall be reviewed by the department and other relevant agencies as determined by the department.

§ 2. Subdivision a of section 19-160.2 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as amended by local law number 121 for the year 2023, is amended to read as follows: 

a. The petition shall be in such form as prescribed by the department. The petition shall include an accurate drawing depicting required clearances, the space to be occupied, and the locations of tables, chairs, barriers and other permitted objects. Such drawing may be developed by an architect, engineer, or other professional third party, or by the petitioner. The petition shall be made available to the public and completed petitions shall be received by the department, both online and at a physical location accessible to the public at either a department facility or a facility operated by the department of small business services. Petitioners shall be able to receive relevant information at such physical location pertaining to their application. Petitioners shall be able to save and return to an incomplete online application prior to submitting such petition for review by the department. The petition filed with the department shall be complete and accurate, as determined by the department, and the department shall, within 5 days of the filing of such complete and accurate petition, forward such petition by electronic mail to the president of the borough in which the cafe is proposed to be located, the speaker of the council and the council member in whose district the cafe is proposed to be located, for information purposes, and to the community board for the community district in which the cafe is proposed to be located, for review pursuant to subdivision b of this section.

§ 3. This local law takes effect 1 year after it becomes law.

LH

LS #19043, 19550, 19961

10/16/2025