Outdoor dining started as a temporary program during the COVID-19 pandemic for businesses to stay afloat. It’s now becoming a permanent fixture at some restaurants in New York City.

Business owners now have the chance to cement their outdoor dining areas as part of their business for the foreseeable future after the Adams administration launched the online application portal to do so on Tuesday.

“We learned a lot from 2020 to today… we heard from the restaurant advocate community, from members of the community who both of them say… we want this program to be permanent,” said Department of Transportation commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez.

Establishments that are already operating under the temporary program but don’t plan on re-applying have until Aug. 3 to remove their existing setups.

Rodriguez says that all restaurants are welcome to apply, even those that did not participate in the temporary outdoor dining program.

The first approved outdoor dining setup under the new permanent program is set to hit the city streets this summer.