Winnipeg, MB – The City of Winnipeg has released details of a temporary patio approval process available for local restaurants in response to the Province of Manitoba’s Restoring Safe Services plan. Guidelines and registration for the new temporary approvals are available through 311 and on the City of Winnipeg website.
The Province’s Restoring Safe Services plan released on April 29, 2020, will allow for eligible businesses to operate patio service while recognizing current public health requirements as of Monday, May 4, 2020. In order for businesses that do not currently hold an existing patio permit to participate during the first phase of the Province’s plan, they will be required to register with the City under the new temporary approval process.
Temporary patios must comply with the general safety requirements outlined in the Temporary Patio Registration Form and will be allowed to operate with a temporary approval until May 31, 2020, unless otherwise extended by the City as a result of the Province’s plan. Registration Forms can be submitted by email to ppd-permit@winnipeg.ca. Registrations submitted before 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 3, 2020 will be processed in time for start of business on Monday, May 4, 2020.
In addition to recognizing the public health guidelines on social distancing, all temporary patios must comply with the following general safety guidelines, which can also be found on the Temporary Patio Registration Form:
- Patio must be open air - no tents, structures, or canopies.
- Patios with 60 persons or less shall be provided with one or more means of egress. Patios with greater than 60 persons shall provide two remote means of egress.
- A fence surrounding the patio is required if alcohol is being served.
- Fences must be secured without damaging or drilling into the sidewalk, roadway, or curb.
- Patio umbrellas, planter boxes, signs, sandwich boards, etc. must not overhang or extend beyond the fenced area.
- A clear path of pedestrian travel (5 feet minimum) must be maintained on the sidewalk.
- Patio must be 6 metres back from a bus stop.
- Patio must not extend in front of adjacent tenant spaces.
- There must be access to a fire extinguisher inside or outside the building, and 1 metre clearance for the fire department connection.
- The organization of tables, seating, and access must accommodate a wheelchair.
- Fence and all furniture within the patio must be equal to or less than 1 metre in height.
- Business name and logo may appear on fencing, but other banners and signs are generally prohibited.
- The size of patio should be limited as necessary to minimize disturbance where there are nearby residential dwellings. Patio service shall be stopped by 11 p.m. unless otherwise extended by the City, and sound levels are not to exceed 60 decibels.
- All cooking must take place inside within the licensed area.
- No open-air fires (bonfires, no solid fuel permitted) allowed within the patio, however enclosed gas radiant heaters can be used as per manufacturer’s instructions.
- The patio area shall be set back from the face of the curb by a minimum of 0.5 metres.
- In an emergency maintenance or repair situation, the patio elements will be removed by others to allow for these activities. In a non-emergency maintenance or repair situation, notice will be provided to the applicant to have the patio elements removed to allow for these activities.
City officials will evaluate the temporary patio program over the next 30 days to the end of May to ensure the approvals continue to align with the Province’s Restoring Safe Services plan. The approval date of temporary patios may be extended at this time to suit the plan. If a business would like to operate their patio longer, they will need to apply for a permit and regular processing times will apply. More information on the permit application process is available online at: City of Winnipeg - Planning, Property & Development.