City Council Approves Amendments to Sidewalk Dining Ordinance

The Pasadena City Council passed amendments to the City’s Sidewalk Dining on Public Walkways Ordinance on Monday which the City Council adopted early in 2020 so local restaurants could remain in operation as COVID-19 restrictions were being put in place.

As proposed for fiscal year 2023, the base rates for outdoor permit applications will be categorized by three business improvement districts (BID) including Old Pasadena Management District, Playhouse Village and South Lake. Non-BID areas will have a different base rate.

For the 2022 fee schedule, rates were calculated on a per-street or street segment basis.

The proposed outdoor dining permit fees will range from $11 to $14 per square foot per year for sidewalks and alleys, and from $7 to $8.50 for on-street dining in the BID zones. Non-BID zones could charge $4.25 per square foot per year for sidewalks and alley permit fees, and $4 for on-street fees.

The City hosted a webinar on May 4 to present and discuss the proposed fees, with approximately 50 restaurant owners or representatives, and BID representatives attending.

Pasadena instituted outdoor dining along sidewalks, alleys and portions of barricaded streets in May 2020 after it passed an amendment to its local emergency declaration relating to restaurants and retail businesses. Although the City set a fee schedule, permit fees were waived in support of local businesses suffering the pandemic’s impact. These fees will continue to be waived through June 30, according to the City Council’s direction.