YONKERS: Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano today announced he will issue an emergency order suspending the City’s zoning and building codes which will allow restaurants to provide outdoor dining for patrons. 

QUOTE: “Our local economy came to a complete standstill three months ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing businesses either to drastically cut services or even shut down,” said Mayor Spano. “As a city, we need to provide accessible opportunities for more employment, profitability and entertainment. By allowing for a simplified and expedited application process, we can ensure Yonkers will be ready and open for business when we are given the green light to reopen.”

This will happen once New York State authorizes outdoor dining operations, restaurants will be able to use sidewalks, parking areas or other suitable areas for outdoor dining. 

Restaurants will be able to use sidewalks as long as they separate dining areas from passersby and leave four feet of sidewalk open.

Establishments also can use their own parking lots if they have one and the City, through the Yonkers Parking Authority, will make City lots available for any ones adjacent to restaurants.

Applicants must submit a $50 fee for the sidewalk café application.

Approval of any submitted outside dining permits must conform to New York State’s physical distancing guidelines, and will only be authorized when the State authorizes outside dining for Westchester County.

Questions can be directed to the Yonkers Small Business Center at 914-343-4113 or SmallBiz@yonkersny.gov.