The Phoenix City Council approved the creation of Temporary Outdoor Dining and Alcohol Consumption Areas to allow restaurants to implement outside dining to accommodate their customers while meeting social distancing requirements and recommendations. The temporary outdoor dining program allows the Planning and Development Department to issue an “Emergency Declaration Temporary Outdoor Dining Administrative Temporary Use Permit” (ATUP) at no fee.
“Being responsive to businesses and their challenges during the pandemic has been a priority for the city and our staff,” said Planning and Development Department Director Alan Stephenson. “For the restaurants who need to reduce their indoor capacity for safety, outside offers an option to maximize the customers they can serve without compromising that safety.”
Getting a use permit for outdoor dining can normally take between four to six weeks and requires a public hearing process. With the ATUP, staff will review the plans, within typically a 15-day time frame, and provide a temporary permit at no charge. The restaurant will not be required to have permanent fencing in place. Temporary enclosures will be permitted for areas serving alcohol to accommodate state requirements.
For more information on the program and to submit plans, visit https://www.phoenix.gov/pdd/temp-outdoor-dining
