Sidewalk Cafe — Abandoned Setup (Unused 30+ Days)

A sidewalk cafe or roadway cafe must be used and occupied for outdoor dining. When not used and occupied for outdoor dining for 30 consecutive days or more (outside of the roadway cafe seasonal closure period), the cafe furniture, barriers, and structures must be removed from the sidewalk or roadway by the licensee.

• empty, dirty, or weather-worn outdoor dining setup with no patrons or apparent operation
• abandoned-looking tables and chairs or barriers with accumulated dirt, debris, or rust
• closed-off outdoor dining structure that appears to have been unused for an extended period
• roadway cafe barriers left in place on the street with no dining activity or seasonal context

1. Photograph the obstruction from sidewalk level showing clear path width.
2. Capture any posted DOT dining license or permit if visible.
3. File via 311 under Sidewalk Café / Outdoor Dining, or use SidewalkSnitch dining analysis.
4. Describe how pedestrians are forced into the street or bike lane.

Official channel: portal.311.nyc.gov or dial 311. Agency: NYC DOT.

DOT may issue notices of violation to licensed cafés; unlicensed setups can face removal orders and fines. Repeat violations can affect license renewal.

DOT Sidewalk Café Inspection responds to encroachment complaints. Licensed sites are measured against permit bounds; unlicensed structures may be tagged for removal.

• Outdoor dining violations