As patio season nears, support for dining out on the sidewalk grows as Victoria city council refines its patio bylaw and the provincial government announced another extension to the temporary 2020 measure that saw the al fresco season flourish.
Friday’s provincial extension marks the third time the measures have been extended. Originally slated to end in June of 2022, they were extended to March of 2023. Now, the temporary extended service area authorization is set to last until the end of December 2024.
During the pandemic, government regulation fast-tracked businesses’ capabilities to take on more robust outdoor dining measures.
READ MORE: Patios in B.C. can apply to become permanent under new liquor regulations, dependent on municipality
In addition to the provincial change, Victoria’s committee of the whole meeting, Dec. 8 2022 included a focus on the use of public space and how to better improve the patio regulation bylaw in a more permanent manner.
On March 9, city council voted unanimously in favour of the refined patio regulation bylaw and passed its first, second, and third readings.
The bylaw still needs to undergo its adoption which will come at a later date.
The new regulations help organize the outdoor dining arrangements based on their type (simple patios, complex patios) and also sets out a fixed structure of licensing with location-based pricing for businesses looking to permit their own.
On top of that, they also granted approval for a new 33-person outdoor patio at the Vancouver Island Brewery and the company now just needs approval from the liquor board.
RELATED: B.C. extends measures that allow for temporary outdoor patio service areas
Roger Collins
