Edmonton Fire Rescue Services Sidewalk Patio Cafe Guidelines
Details about Fire Rescue Services Sidewalk Patio Cafe site plan and safety requirements.
Main page content begins here
A Sidewalk Café Permit and a Sidewalk Café Licence are required to operate a Sidewalk Café.
Sidewalk Cafés, Restaurants and Outdoor Patios add life and vitality to the downtown core, business districts and main streets.
To promote a vibrant café culture and transform streets into gathering spaces, the City is encouraging the use of City sidewalks for sidewalk cafés, subject to conformance with appropriate design standards and guidelines.
The Sidewalk Café Permit and Licence shows the public that the business owner is operating within the guidelines of the City of Edmonton.
If you are a business owner or operator that would like to establish or renew a sidewalk café, it is recommended that you become familiar with the application types and processes, submission requirements, café guidelines and standards, and required approvals.
The following definitions may help clarify the type of outdoor space you propose to develop.
An Outdoor Patio is an open or partially covered seating area with table services accessed from an existing eating or drinking establishment located on private property. Establishment of a commercial outdoor patio is handled through the standard development permit process by Development Services.
A Sidewalk Café is essentially an extension of the uses of an approved licensed restaurant, specialty food and/or beverage services with provision of additional seating onto a designated area within the adjacent public road right-of-way that includes sidewalks, boulevards, roadways and alleyways.
To deal more effectively with the differences in scale, operation and requirements, the City is proposing two types of sidewalk cafés, a Minor Sidewalk Café and a Major Sidewalk Café, each with its own functional characteristics and processes.
A Minor Sidewalk Café consists of a maximum of 8 seats located adjacent to a commercial building with a valid business licence, or closer to the curb with adequate setbacks.
No alcohol is permitted within the café area and additional parking is not required. The applicant must apply for a Minor Sidewalk Café Permit in accordance with the submission requirements, including a fully dimensioned site plan.
The Café Permit is valid for five years and the café is allowed to operate year round.
A Major Sidewalk Walk Café provides table service, and alcoholic beverages may be served with a permit extension from Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC).
The café is allowed to operate year-round, subject to operational procedures and standards outlined in the Sidewalk Café Guidelines, and the required Sidewalk Café Licence.
Applicants should also review the Boardwalk Style Sidewalk Cafe Site Plan Example and Major Sidewalk Cafe Site Plan Example for details on setbacks and table layouts.
The Sidewalk Café Permit and Licence are both valid for five years. Additional parking, loading and unloading spaces, are not required.
Depending on the type of sidewalk café proposed, the following approvals may be required from other agencies with separate fees and approval processes.
You are encouraged to contact the agencies to become familiar with their submission requirements and timelines.
To apply for a Sidewalk Café Permit and Licence complete the Application Form and Checklist. Ensure you provide all the submission requirements listed in the checklist.
The following framework outlines the proposed procedures, requirements and guidelines to allow Sidewalk Cafés to be established within public road right-of-ways, in areas designated or suitable for enhanced pedestrian activity and revitalization.
An applicant for a Sidewalk Café Permit, whether major or minor, is advised to:
If exterior alterations to the building, new awning, canopy or deck are planned, or attachment to the adjacent building is proposed, a Building Permit Application should be submitted, along with the application for a Sidewalk Café Permit.
In addition to the approval of a Sidewalk Café Permit and Licence, applicants are responsible for applying to Alberta Health Services and Alberta Gaming Liquor Commission to formally submit Applications for a Food Handling Permit and a Liquor Licence Extension, respectively.
Renewal of a Sidewalk Café Permit and Sidewalk Café Licence is required every 5 years.
Any proposed changes to the approved sidewalk café area, or change from a Minor to a Major Sidewalk Café, require a new Sidewalk Café Permit application and Sidewalk Café Licence.
A change in business ownership to an approved sidewalk café also requires a new Sidewalk Café Licence with applicable fees.
Applicants must adhere to the guidelines, standards and performance expectations in the approval of the sidewalk café.
Operators who default in the performance of any obligations in the approvals may have their permit and licence rescinded if they fail to rectify the situation. Enforcement measures may be initiated by the City.
Effective January 1, 2019
For Sidewalk Café Permit Applications: $518/5 years
2nd Floor, 10111 104 Avenue NW
Edmonton, AB T5J 0J4
Hours of Operation
Monday to Friday
8am to 4:30pm
Telephone | In Edmonton: 311 |
---|
End of page content. Please choose between the following five options:
Back to main menu Back to current page menu and content View current page breadcrumb Back to site search Continue to page footer content