Outdoor dining program gets the City Council’s approval to go permanent

The Al Fresco Dining Program, enabling outdoor dining in Los Angeles, has been made permanent after a three-year ordinance finalization process.

On December 8, the Los Angeles City Council voted 14-0 to approve and finalize the draft of the Al Fresco ordinance, which temporarily allowed restaurants in the city to operate outdoor dining on private property such as the parking lot or sidewalk.

“Al Fresco helped hundreds of restaurants during the pandemic, keeping their doors open and money in the pockets of workers,” said Councilwoman Traci Park. “And while many restaurants are still struggling and potentially face some troubling economic headwinds, today’s action is going to help protect your continued vitality and viability.”

However, according to the finalized recommendation, eligible restaurants will have to comply with some new standards when the revised program goes into effect.

The new policy will first require restaurants under the al fresco program to provide at least one parking space available unless they are exempt per state law. Under current policy, it is up to the business owner’s discretion whether to provide alternate parking for parking spaces taken up by diners.

Restaurants must also display a city-issued permit in their outdoor dining areas, indicating compliance with the Al Fresco ordinance. The official number for inquiries and complaints is 311. The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) will establish a database for this purpose and record cumulative reports.

Noise complaints from outdoor businesses shall be enforced by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). Government agencies that manage al fresco areas including the LAPD will be able to use the database for enforcement.

Playing music in outdoor spaces also falls under restrictions, otherwise, restaurants need to apply for a conditional use permit from the city.

Restaurants in the city’s coastal areas which are overseen by the California Coastal Commission are not subject to this ordinance. According to the Department of City Planning, the recently approved AB 1217 extends outdoor dining for restaurants in coastal areas until July 1, 2026.

Yet, the restaurateurs are pointing out that the proposed enforcement will only add to the inconvenience of the current al fresco program.

In response to this concern, the council added a provision that would exempt parking standards for restaurants with indoor spaces under 3,000 square feet or parking spaces under 1,000 square feet. However, the businesses noted that the cost of reclaiming parking spots that are already being used for outdoor operations would be significant, as well as the expected loss of sales.

The effectiveness of enforcing outdoor music regulations was questioned, as many restaurants could evade the law by temporarily turning off music during police visits, rendering the reporting database potentially ineffective.

BY HOONSIK WOO    [woo.hoonsik@koreadaily.com]