Sidewalk or Roadway Cafe — Alcohol Service Without SLA Authorization

No beer, alcoholic or spirituous liquors shall be served at a sidewalk cafe or roadway cafe unless permitted by the New York State Liquor Authority. Service of alcohol in the outdoor dining area requires an SLA license that explicitly covers the sidewalk or roadway cafe footprint.

• patrons drinking beer, wine, or cocktails at outdoor cafe tables
• open bottles, glasses of wine, beer pints, or mixed drinks visible on cafe tables
• wait staff delivering alcoholic beverages to outdoor seating
• outdoor bar, tap setup, or bottle display within the cafe perimeter

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 / NYS SLA.

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