City of Cambridge offers quick, easy process to help restaurants to expand patios and create more outdoor space

The City of Cambridge has implemented a streamlined process and is waiving permit fees to make it faster and easier for restaurant owners to expand or create new patios and outdoor dining areas.

As of Friday, June 12 under Stage 2 of the Province’s reopening plan, outdoor dining services in the Region of Waterloo are permitted to open.  Restaurants and bars, along with patios, have been closed due to provincial orders and public health recommendations on COVID-19.

“By cutting red tape and streamlining the process, we are helping our local restaurant owners take advantage of patio season, to open quickly and to be able to offer expanded and new outdoor spaces to safely enable physical distancing,” said Mayor Kathryn McGarry.

“We have already seen how creative our local restaurateurs have been in adapting to the pandemic and this will be another example. The news from the Province has certainly been met with enthusiasm by customers. I am also very excited for our businesses and I expect we will see a renewed vibrancy outside our restaurants and in the core areas.”

Restaurant owners wishing to expand or create new patios can submit an application form online www.cambridge.ca/BusinessLicence. Restaurant owners will also be expected to follow public health directives in terms of capacity numbers and physical distancing guidelines.

Any restaurant owners with questions about the application process can call Service Cambridge at (519) 623-1340.  

Residents can also continue to support our local retailers and restaurants  through our #OrderFromHome and #DineFromHome programs. Visit www.investcambridge.ca/orderfromhome to see which businesses and restaurants are offering delivery and curbside pickup, and help support local business.