New City Approach to Restaurant Streeteries
During COVID-19, the City of Philadelphia permitted many restaurants to operate Streeteries–outdoor dining spaces that were covered, in a parking lane, or both.
06.13.24
Streeteries were offered to compensate for the restricted indoor capacity with which many businesses in the city had to comply. Many restaurant owners expended significant funds in order to construct their streeteries. The Department of Streets must approve the location of the Streetery, and the Department of Licenses and Inspections issues the license.
The regulations related to outdoor Streetery dining changed several times since 2020 and local restauranteurs have patiently waited to see how the City’s new mayoral administration would address Streeteries. On June 5, 2024, Mayor Cherelle Parker signed Bill No. 240331, modifying the Philadelphia Code requirements imposed on restaurants that operate Streeteries in the City. (Note that, depending on location and other important, case-specific details, Streeteries are offered in addition to the outdoor dining options provided by the City’s sidewalk café rules).
Bill No. 240331 expands the locations where a restaurant operator may operate a Streetery, making it possible to operate on properties adjacent to the restaurant (in addition to abutting properties), or in the parking lane portion of the right of way abutting the adjacent property to that restaurant. Depending on location, this will have a huge impact on the ability of certain restaurants to expand their outdoor dining options. If a proposed Streetery is not located within an approved location, then a custom City Council Ordinance would be needed (in addition to Streets Department approval of the design) to create a Streetery.
If you are a restaurant owner and have any questions about owning or operating a Streetery in the City of Philadelphia, please contact the zoning and land use practice group at Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg LLP.
Co-authors Ron Patterson, chair, and Augusta O’Neill, associate, are members of the zoning & land use practice group at Klehr Harrison.