Just in time for the warmer weather, the city has opened up the application process for its seasonal patio program.
This is the second year of the permanent patio program, after a three-year pilot project.
The initiative runs from May to September.
Last year saw a 58 per cent drop in the number of patios set up, going from 33 in 2023 – the final year of a three-year pilot project – to 14 patios.
The fees are about the same for new patios: $675 + HST and an additional $10 for each square metre of public space used per month. The monthly fee was a point of contention for some businesses when the permanent program was approved in 2023.
The $675 includes a one-time application fee, one-time agreement fee and an annual inspection fee.
Returning operators will only need to pay for the annual inspection fee ($260 + HST) and the monthly $10 per square metre cost.
But they will be “required to repay the application and agreement fees before patio installation” if they don’t meet the deadline to renew their patios.
The deadline to apply or renew the patio for the upcoming season is Apr. 1.