Outdoor dining is officially back in New York City, but with a new set of seasonal rules and plenty of confusion. Restaurant owners say the updated program—requiring permits and liquor license alterations—is expensive and unclear.

Outdoor dining is set to start today in New York City, so find a table and some fresh air. The sheds and other structures that popped up all over the city during the COVID pandemic had to be taken down last year. But now, they've become seasonal.

When the program fully resumes on Tuesday, there will be nearly 80% fewer outdoor dining setups than during the pandemic peak.