March 27, 2025
Update: Alcohol Service in Outdoor Dining Gets the Green Light
Good news for restaurants and bars: the State Liquor Authority (SLA) has confirmed that it will accept the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Conditional Approvals as valid documentation when filing an Alteration Application to serve alcohol in outdoor dining areas.
Here’s what you need to know:
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Businesses must file an Alteration Application within 60 days of receiving conditional approval from DOT.
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If you already have conditional approval, your deadline to file is June 1, 2025.
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Failure to file in time—or a revoked approval—means you’ll need to stop serving alcohol in those outdoor areas.
As long as your café is operating legally under DOT rules, you may continue serving alcohol outdoors while your application is in process.
This update ensures outdoor dining can continue smoothly while New York transitions into the new Dining Out NYC program.
File your SLA Alteration Application →
