The NYC Hospitality Alliance is pleased to inform you that the State Liquor Authority (SLA) has announced it will accept the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) “Conditional Approvals” for sidewalk and roadway cafes as valid documentation for restaurants and bars filing an Alteration Application. This allows businesses to add contiguous and non-contiguous outdoor space to their liquor license for alcohol consumption.
Per the SLA’s December 2024 announcement, businesses must file their Alteration Application within 60 days of receiving conditional approval from DOT. Those who have already received conditional approval must file by June 1, 2025 (60 days after April 2nd, 2025). [Visit SLA to file an Alteration Application.] If a business fails to file within 60 days (or if its conditional approval is revoked), it must cease serving alcohol in the affected outdoor areas.
In the meantime, the SLA’s implication is that restaurants and bars currently operating outdoor dining legally under city law and DOT rules, may continue serving alcohol lawfully, provided they comply with the required process explained above.
The NYC Hospitality Alliance commends the State Liquor Authority (SLA) for implementing a reasonable process that ensures outdoor dining remains uninterrupted for restaurants, workers, and New Yorkers and visitors who enjoy alfresco dining during the transition period from the pandemic-era system into the new Dining Out NYC program.
The NYC Hospitality Alliance remains committed to advocating for our industry and keeping you informed. We are pleased to confirm that our previous alerts regarding the service and consumption of alcohol in lawful outdoor dining areas were accurate, despite any incorrect information and reporting you may have encountered elsewhere that caused confusion.
