Click on an element to see its requirements.
Umbrellas/Coverings
Lighting
Heating and Cooling
Plantings
Electrical Connections
Graphics and Branding
Flooring
Screening
Barrier Cladding
- Barriers can be clad with various materials to provide a more aesthetically pleasing look and feel.
- Barrier cladding should be lightweight, removable, and easily cleaned.
- Barrier cladding must be securely fastened.
- The barrier must maintain required dimensions inclusive of any cladding.
- Review basic barrier requirements.
- Review graphic and branding requirements.
Flooring
- Flooring must comply with ADA-requirements.
- Flooring must be durable, lightweight, mold-resistant, and easily removable.
- It should be flush or level with the adjacent curb and must be elevated from the roadway surface to allow for drainage and regular cleaning.
- Where setups are on steep slopes, the flooring must be flush with the adjacent curb to the greatest extent feasible.
- Flooring must be lifted on a regular basis, at least once a week, for cleaning.
- To allow for drainage, maintain a 6 inch covered channel between the flooring and the curb. Review a diagram for how to provide this channel.
- No other ground coverings, such as rugs or artificial turf, are permitted.
Flooring
- Keep the 6 inch area between the roadway cafe and the curb clear to allow for drainage. This 6 inch gap should be bridged with a cover to maintain ADA-compliant access to the cafe.
Vertical Screening
- Vertical screening may be used, but can only be placed on the roadway-facing side of a cafe. It cannot extend beyond the perimeter of the cafe and cannot be affixed to the outward facing side of the barrier; it may be mounted to the top of the barrier.
- Vertical screening is not permitted within 50 feet of a regulatory or safety sign.
- The vertical screening can be a maximum of 6 feet above the base or floor of the cafe.
- Any screening must maintain clear visibility and cannot be opaque (e.g., plantings, lattice panels, clear plexiglass, etc.).
- Vertical screening must be easily removable, wind-resistant, and made of fire-resistant grade materials.
Screening
Plantings
- Plantings may be used and can be placed around the entire perimeter.
- The overall height of plantings and a barrier can be a maximum of 46 inches within 50 feet of a regulatory or safety sign. Review siting clearances.
- Provide only the minimum amount of soil depth needed to support plantings. Carefully choose plants that will perform well given the available soil and level of care provided.
- Plantings should not provide harborage for pests or rodents.
Plantings
Umbrellas or Overhead Coverings
- Umbrellas or overhead coverings must be a minimum of 7 feet and can extend no higher than 10 feet from the base or floor of the dining area.
- Not permitted within 50 feet of a regulatory or safety sign. Review siting clearances.
- An umbrella or overhead covering cannot extend beyond the outer edge of the cafe and cannot be affixed to the outward facing side of the barriers.
- Must be easily removable, wind-resistant, and made of fire-resistant grade materials.
- Umbrellas or overhead coverings must have a weighted base. Any stand or structure used to support an umbrella or overhead covering must be of sufficient size and strength, be made of durable materials, and be free of defects.
- Overhead covering materials may include tensile fabric, retractable fabric, fabric panels, and rigid sheet material (e.g., polycarbonate panels, panelized sheet metals, etc.)
- Review graphic and branding requirements.
Umbrellas/Coverings
Electrical Connections
- We recommend consulting a licensed professional if you are considering making an electrical connection to your roadway setup.
- All electric power must be supplied from the building.
- Electric connections must run from the building to the roadway cafe. They cannot be attached to or run from any City-owned property, like a street light.
- Connections must maintain 14 feet clearance over the sidewalk.
- If you are in a floating parking lane or the connection otherwise goes over the roadway, you must maintain 18 feet clearance over the roadway.
- All connections must comply with the NYC Electric Code and any other applicable rules.
- Electric connections must be properly removed in the off-season. Review seasonality requirements.
Electrical Connections
Lighting
- Lighting must be outdoor rated, properly secured, protected, and lightweight.
- Must be located within the roadway cafe and can only illuminate the cafe.
- Review electrical connections for information on how to connect to power.
- Consider the use of battery-powered or solar-powered lighting fixtures. Check out the Dining Out NYC: Setup Menu for options.
Lighting
Heating and Cooling
- Heaters may be installed but must be approved by NYC DOB and FDNY.
- Fans or similar cooling devices are also permitted and must comply with applicable regulations.
- Review electrical connections for information on how to connect to power for these elements.
Heating and Cooling
Graphics and Branding
- No advertising is allowed.
- The following can be displayed on elements of the cafe:
- Name and logo of the restaurant
- Menu or information on services provided by the restaurant
- Name and logo of any sponsors of the restaurants amenities
- Graphics can only occupy 10% of the surface area of the surface on which they are located.
- Graphics may be painted onto or physically attached to the barriers, but can be no more than one inch in depth.
- Menu and hours of operation are not permitted on the barrier or vertical screening.
- On umbrellas or overhead coverings, graphics may be physically adhered to the fabric.
- No graphics or signs may be self-illuminated, flashing, or moving.
Graphics and Branding
Dining Out NYC: Setup Menu and Marketplace
