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How can you continue to use outdoor spaces for dining as the weather turns cold? Minneapolis has updated the June 2020 guidance giving flexibility to expand outdoor dining while COVID-19 restrictions on indoor dining are in place. This guidance shares how bars and restaurants can continue to use outdoor space for dining.
- If you already have a temporary expansion on private property or a sidewalk café, no more steps are needed. If you have an expansion on the public right-of-way, you must stop using it by October 31. An example of an expansion in the public right-of-way is “parklet” style seating in a parking lane.
- You can use tents and other enclosed spaces to expand seating on private property. Any enclosure with three or more sides is considered indoor dining. Indoor dining must follow the COVID-19 restrictions, including:
- All outdoor dining areas must consider:
- Snow removal needs
- Structural ability of the tent or enclosure to hold the weight of snow without collapsing
- How to meet Americans with Disabilities (ADA) requirements such as being wheelchair accessible
- Some outdoor heating elements are allowed, if you follow fire safety regulations.
- Restaurants and bars thinking about a new or significantly altered outdoor dining setup should contact their business licensing inspector. You will need to submit a new or amended temporary expansion application.
Details on the types of outdoor structures and heating elements that may be used:
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Allowed, no permit required
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Allowed, additional permit required
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Not allowed
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Outdoor Structures – Ground Level
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Canopy (2 or fewer covered sides)
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x
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Tent (3 or more covered sides), less than 400 square feet
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x
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Tent (3 or more covered sides), 400 square feet or larger
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x Tent permit
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Hard-sided/ solid-wall enclosures (greenhouses, igloos, pods)
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x Building permit
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Awnings
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x Zoning approval, building permit required
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Outdoor Structures – Rooftop
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Hard-sided/ solid-wall, must not be plastic (greenhouses)
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x Building permit
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Canopies (any size)
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x
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Tents (any size)
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x
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Heating Elements
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Open flame (bonfires, fire pits)
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x FIS permit
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Liquid propane gas (LP), (patio heaters)
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x FIS permit
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Note: Open flames and fuel sources must not be located inside or within 20 feet of the tent or enclosure. Learn about fire safety regulations.
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Impacted by civil unrest? Need gap funding for physical or economic injury to your business, non-profit or personal property? The deadline to apply for SBA's physical disaster loans for those impacted by the May/June civil unrest is October 2. Applications for Economic Injury will still be accepted until May 3, 2021.
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Applicants who apply after the deadline should provide a written explanation as to why they did not file before the deadline. SBA will accept the application if the SBA determines the late filing resulted from substantial circumstances beyond the applicant’s control.
Questions?
Your primary point of contact for adding or changing your outdoor dining is your business license inspector. Not sure who that is? Call the Business Licenses main line at 612-673-2080.
For other business questions, contact the Minneapolis Small Business Team at 612-673-2499 or SmallBusiness@minneapolismn.gov
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