Seasonal Temporary Commercial Patio Program

All Seasonal Temporary Commercial Patios

Location

The patio must be adjacent to the business establishment making the application. The City of St. Catharines may permit extensions in front of neighbouring properties or units with the written consent of the neighbouring business owner.

Obstructions

The STCPatio shall not obstruct or interfere with pedestrian safety, accessibility, emergency services, public transit, access to surrounding businesses, deliveries, pick-ups, City and public utility infrastructure, fire hydrant or connection, fire route, maintenance work or emergency exit.

Demarcation

The limits of the patio must be distinguishable. Boundaries include decorative fencing, panels, planters, or other option that the City of St. Catharines deems suitable. Any perimeter barriers in a front yard of on a street may have a maximum height of 1.2m (4ft).

Curbside Patio Barriers

If a patio is adjacent to a traffic lane, drive aisle or active parking area, a solid perimeter barrier made of wood, metal, composite or other similar material must be used with a minimum setback of 0.5m.

Entrance Points

A patio must have at least one opening with a minimum width of 1.1m (3.5ft). Gated entrances should open outwards from a patio without interfering with City sidewalks, accessible travel paths, or traffic lanes.

Accessibility

The patio area must be compliant with Accessibility for Ontario with Disabilities Act (AODA) standards and cannot obstruct an accessible travel path. There must also be an accessible travel path from the patio to an accessible washroom.

Capacity

An STCPatio will not permit the increase or change of the permitted occupancy or capacity as approved.

Business License

Establishments submitting applicants for the STCPatio program bust have a valid Refreshment Stand / Restaurant Business License in good standing issued by the City of St. Catharines.

Modifications or Construction

No modifications or elements of the patio can be constructed in a permanent nature – these must be temporary and removed at the end of each operating season. No elements of the patio will be supported that require a building permit.

Tenants

If the property is leased, the applicant is responsible for getting written permission from the Property Owner or Landlord for a patio expansion.

STCPatios on Private Property

Plantings and Landscaping

Landscaping may not encroach into any traffic lane or accessible travel path.

Parking

If an STCPatio is within any private parking area, there are to be no staff or patrons crossing any roadways or vehicles spaces between the business and patio area.

STCPatios on Municipal Property

Clearance

The applicant must maintain an unobstructed pedestrian clearway of 2m (6.56ft) between the patio and any physical obstructions unless otherwise approved by the City of St. Catharines.

Curbside Patio Barriers

If a patio is adjacent to a traffic lane, drive aisle or active parking area, a solid perimeter barrier made of wood, metal, composite or other similar material must be used with a minimum setback of 0.5m. Additional physical or safety barriers may also be required to protect the patio space.

Construction

The patio must have modular construction so that it can be easily installed and removed.

Posts, signs and other features may not be secured to City sidewalk by use of screws, nails, or other fasteners that pierce or damage the surface of the concrete.

The designer shall utilize only high quality, durable and attractive materials, which will substantially enhance the quality and attractiveness of the street.

Signage

Applicants and establishment operators must limit signage to temporary menu displace at the patio entrance (inside the patio area). These cannot interfere with pedestrian movement.

Agreement

Applicants will be required to enter into a counter-signed Legal Agreement with the City of St. Catharines before approval is granted for a temporary patio extension.

STCPatios within the Municipal Right-of Way

Insurance

If the STCPatio is located on municipal property, the operator must provide and maintain evidence of at least $5 million in comprehensive liability insurance for property damage, personal injury and public liability on the lands, naming the Corporation of the City of St. Catharines.

Location

The patio must be located on streets where there is existing on-street parking or surplus pavement width. In special circumstances, interruptions to a live lane of traffic may be considered by City of St. Catharines Staff. The STCPatio must be at lest one parking space away from an intersection or driveway. Applicants and establishment operators may not place an STCPatio in front of a fire hydrant, in accessible parking spaces or blocking access to any utilities.

Dimensions

An STCPatio must be inset at least 0.5 from the outside edge of a parking space or an adjacent live lane of traffic.

Perimeter Barriers

The STCPatio platform must be enclosed on all sides facing the street or adjacent parking stalls. The barrier must be open-type construction with additional road safety measures may be required at the discretion of the Director of Engineering, Facilities and Environmental Services, all costs of which are to be borne by the applicant.

Construction

The STCPatio must have modular construction so that it can be easily installed and removed. It should be constructed of wood, composite decking or steel, (or any combination of these materials).

Patios located on municipal roadways or in on-street parking spaces will be required to be constructed with a platform that should be flush with the sidewalk or curbside sidewalk patio as possible, while maintaining wheelchair access.

Platforms shall be designed and signed off by a licensed architect or engineer, who will confirm that the platform and fence are sturdy and will be able to withstand the anticipated lateral loads. This requirement applies to parking lane or patios on a municipal roadway only.

Posts, signs and other features may not be secured to City sidewalk by use of screws, nails, or other fasteners that pierce or damage the surface of the concrete, unless approved by Engineering, Facilities and Environmental Services staff at time of application review.

The platform shall be designed so as not to obstruct surface drainage and will include maintenance hatches to any catch basins or other services underneath the platform.

Patio Surface

Shall be the same elevation as the adjacent sidewalk.

Constructed of durable, easily maintained material such as wood or composite decking, concrete or interlocking pavers.

Outdoor carpeting is permitted.

Signage

Applicants and establishment operators must limit signage to temporary menu displace at the patio entrance (inside the patio area). These cannot interfere with pedestrian movement.

Agreement

Applicants will be required to enter into a counter-signed Legal Agreement with the City of St. Catharines before approval is granted for a temporary patio extension.