Richmond is offering four options for businesses to build outdoor patios, an upgrade from the city’s temporary patio program that was implemented during COVID-19.
In 2020, the city launched its Temporary Outdoor Patio (TOP) program to allow businesses to continue operating with flexibility during the pandemic.
A new permanent Richmond Patio Program has now been created to allow businesses wanting to establish a patio or to extend an existing outdoor patio permit beyond June 2023.
While city council approved an extension of existing TOP permits until June 2023, no new permit applications will be accepted through the old process this year, explained city spokesperson Clay Adams.
Businesses have four options for patios as follows:
- Seasonal patios located on private property
- Curbside patios located on public property
- Sidewalk patios located on public property
- Permanent patios located on private property
Seasonal patios are limited to operations between April 1 and Oct. 1, and businesses can apply for a patio to be built using commercial parking spaces.
However, this only applies to businesses on properties with at least 20 parking spaces and the patio cannot take up more than 10 per cent of the spaces.
Meanwhile, curbside patios are typically limited to “non-arterial streets” with posted speed limits of 30km/h or less and cannot be built where there are on-street parking spaces with parking restrictions.
Owners who are considering patios within the Steveston Heritage Village Conservation Area (SHVCA) will have additional requirements from the city, for example, construction projects worth more than $10,000 will need to get city council approval and pay a separate heritage alteration application fee.
All patios in the SVHA will need a Heritage Alteration Permit (HAP).
Each patio permit is good for two years.
