small patios, no fees: vancouver aims to simplify permits for restaurants and bars
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curbside patio on commercial drive. vancouver aims to change regulations to speed up the permitting process and offer new design options that officials say will make it easier to get patios up and running.
francis georgian
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restaurants, cafés and breweries in vancouver will be able to set up a few tables and chairs outside storefronts free next year as the city rolls out changes to cut costs and simplify approvals.
the move is part of a set of changes the city recently announced that are designed to speed up the permitting process and offer new design options that officials say will make it easier to set up patios.
“businesses have been clear that the system needed to be simpler and easier to navigate,” said coun. mike klassen. “by modernizing the framework and removing barriers, we are supporting entrepreneurship and helping patios remain an important part of vancouver’s culture.”
patios have become a defining feature since 2020 when vancouver first introduced a temporary program that allowed food and drink establishments to expand seating onto sidewalks and curb lanes to accommodate distanced outdoor dining. what started as a pandemic lifeline has become a draw for locals and tourists — and a key revenue source for restaurants. in 2021, the city made the program permanent.
according to the city, approximately 326 breweries, restaurants and cafés operate year-round sidewalk patios. an additional 238 businesses set them up for the summer. to obtain a permit, operators undertake an approval process to licence the public space for private use, and pay between $450 and $2,800, depending on size.
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under the new rules, restaurants and cafés can set up a few tables and chairs outside free by submitting a simple declaration form instead of a full application. city staff also plan to expand this option to include non-food businesses.
the actual number of tables will vary depending on the size of the restaurant building and design of the patio.
a curbside patio on commercial drive. “businesses have been clear that the system needed to be simpler and easier to navigate,” said coun. mike klassen. “by modernizing the framework and removing barriers, we are supporting entrepreneurship and helping patios remain an important part of vancouver’s culture.”
francis georgian
/
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the updates get rid of the need for engineered drawings for simple patios, allow more businesses to join in, introduce a basic low-cost design template and give more flexibility for design features such as wind screens, string lights and shade coverings.
curbside patios will now also be required to include an accessible seat, a clear path of travel and easy-to-use entry points. establishments with existing patios will have up to three years to make accessibility upgrades and will receive a one-time full reimbursement of their permit fee once improvements are completed.
the proposed changes follow a two-year review involving consultation with operators, business improvement associations and hospitality leaders, with more than 80 per cent of participants supporting the proposed overhaul.
nigel pike, whose two restaurants and brewery in mount pleasant have outdoor patios, said the changes are a step in the right direction.
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“as restaurants continue to struggle in this economy, any savings or streamlining is most welcome,” pike said. “our guests have continued to embrace using the outside spaces to this day.”
but the changes could come with a cost.
in a report to council this month, city staff proposed annual fee increases of six per cent for three years starting in 2026, on top of inflation adjustments, to help cover the costs of vancouver’s patio program. they say this would allow the city to break even by 2028.
the patio program has been running at a deficit. in 2025, annual costs are estimated to exceed permit revenue by about $335,000, driven by expenses such as traffic safety equipment, waived fees during pedestrian pilot programs and limited enforcement, according to the report.
in downtown vancouver, the 2025 average patio permit costs $2,020. outside the downtown core it costs $1,430, according to the report.
city staff plan to report to council in january 2026 with a co-ordinated patio framework for approval.
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