POUGHKEEPSIE – Main Street will no longer have portions of the streets, parking spots, and sidewalks blocked by large barbeque grills that have sprouted up continuously in the past few years, primarily along Main Street. The Common Council has enacted a law that bans outdoor cooking on streets and sidewalks without a permit.
The change to the city code says in part:
“There shall be no cooking, preparation, processing, or service of food, or storage of food, utensils or equipment on a street or sidewalk or other public area unless otherwise permitted in this code.”
There are exceptions to the ban, including the following:
Cooking in approved areas within public parks for personal consumption;
Cooking during events approved by the City;
Enforcement of the new law includes the issuance of tickets. The law allows tickets for violating the law to be issued to the offenders by the building inspector, code enforcement officer, fire inspector, sanitation inspector, or any member of the police department at his or her discretion or upon a signed complaint.
The violators are subjected to a fine of not less than $250 or more than $1,000 for each offense.