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After five years of pandemic-era freedom, restaurants in Washington, D.C., will soon face steep fees and restrictions on outdoor dining, part of a national trend of cities reclaiming public streets and tightening safety rules.

Starting Dec. 1, restaurants in the nation’s capital will have to pay new fees and meet tougher design and safety standards to keep their "streateries" in place after years of them being rent-free, according to multiple reports.

City officials say the crackdown is about restoring order, safety and aesthetics to public streets.

AMERICA'S PIZZA BOOM GOES COLD AS DELIVERY APPS TAKE BIGGER SLICE OF THE PIE

"There are some safety concerns," District Department of Transportation (DDOT) Director Sharon Ke

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