With warmer weather comes more opportunities to dine outside in Hoboken. A new ordinance passed in Hoboken in February 2025 will require restaurants with parklets to clean underneath them daily. Members of the Hoboken City Council say it’s a push towards a cleaner city. The new cleaning requirements are set to take effect on April 1st, 2025. Read on to learn about the specifics of this new parklet ordinance in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Background On Outdoor Dining In New Jersey

The outdoor dining debate has been on a journey. While outdoor seating has been an option for many restaurants, it grew increasingly popular in 2020 during the COVID pandemic. In 2021, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation expanding outdoor dining. It allowed restaurants across the state to use heated tents, canopies, and even igloos so guests could dine while social distancing.

One of the concerns for many parklets, which is the name for these outdoor eating spaces, in Hoboken are the rodents that seem to make themselves at home in those structures. in 2023, the Hoboken City Council approved a proposal that prohibited bars or restaurants from adding new parklets in an effort to curb those rat issues. Just as soon as it was approved, Mayor Bhalla vetoed it, and establishments were allowed to continue with their outdoor dining structures.

Read More: Alessio’s to Open Casa Italia Gourmet Market in Hoboken

The City then paused applications for new parklet structures from the end of 2023 into the summer of 2024. Governor Murphy then signed new legislation into law in November of 2024 making outdoor dining permanent across the state. It allows holders of temporary expansion permits issued by the State Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to convert the temporary permit into a permanent permit.

The New Ordinance For Hoboken Parklets

In February 2025, the Hoboken City Council approved a new ordinance requiring establishments to regularly clean parklets. The Hoboken Division of Health will inspect and enforce the new cleaning standards.

The ordinance was sponsored by Councilwomen Tiffanie Fisher and Emily Jabbour. To break it down: bars and restaurants with parklets are now mandated to conduct daily sweeping and washing in and underneath the structure. Owners of bars and restaurants with parklets will be required to construct the structure to allow for daily access underneath it. It could mean replacing floorboards with hinge doors, open bases, or other designs that allow staff to better clean the area. The goal is to make it easier to clean the place beyond just lifting floorboards. Establishments must powerwash the parklet weekly instead of regularly. The ordinance also requires monthly extermination services for all parklets. This takes effect on April 1st, 2025.

On her website, Councilwoman Fisher says this ordinance, “is a proactive step toward better maintenance, stronger enforcement, and a cleaner, healthier city.”

"Ensuring our parklets remain clean and hygienic while supporting our small businesses is a nuanced and complicated challenge, one that doesn’t have a single, simple solution," said Mayor Bhalla. "This amended ordinance is a step in the right direction to strike that balance, helping to combat rodent activity while maintaining vibrant outdoor dining spaces. The City will continue to do what it can to assist businesses in keeping their dining areas clean and well-maintained, so that residents and visitors can continue to enjoy all that Hoboken has to offer."

Local Restaurant Reactions

As of February 2025, there are 25 establishments in Hoboken with parklets. According to City Hall, there are no new applications for parklets as of the publication of this article.

See More: 22 Montclair Area News Stories This Week

The Hoboken Girl has reached out to several Hoboken businesses with parklets, and this post will be updated with any further comments.

Follow @thehobokengirl on Instagram + TikTok to stay in the know with all of the local news, sign up for our weekly newsletter here, and check out our events calendar.