(NYC DOT via Twitter)
Dec. 15, 2020 By Allie Griffin
The city has ordered eateries to shut down their roadway dining setups on Wednesday in anticipation of the major snow storm.
The Sanitation Department (DSNY) has ordered restaurants to close their dining areas located along the roadway by 2 p.m., when a “snow alert” goes into effect Wednesday. Sidewalk seating, however, will still be permitted.
DSNY made the announcement on Monday — the same day that indoor dining was shuttered across the city.
The city will notify restaurants when they can reopen street seating, which could be as early as Thursday evening based on the current forecast, DSNY said.
Recent projections predict that the city will be slammed with eight or more inches of snow.
The reopening of roadway dining, however, could be delayed until Friday depending on the actual snow accumulations and roadway conditions.
The city will require eateries to take in tables, chairs and electric heaters from the street by 2 p.m. Wednesday. However, they are permitted to leave the barriers or structures they use for roadway dining up as long as the snow accumulation is less than 12 inches.
Should the storm exceed 12 inches, restaurants will be required to remove or consolidate structures like barriers and tents. This is to ensure DSNY snow plows can get through to clear the roadways.
Alternate side parking rules will also be suspended both Wednesday and Thursday.
