Parklet and Outdoor Dining Standards
1 A parklet is a semi-permanent installation to allow outdoor dining on parking spaces, which maybe be public or private. Outdoor dining refers to other situations including sidewalks, plazas, or other open areas, and can also be located on public or private property.
Standards for parklets and outdoor dining are divided into three sections below: Those applicable to both parklets and outdoor dining, applicable to outdoor dining only, and applicable to parklets only. For more information, contact the Community Development Department at 707-665-3636.
A. Standards Applicable to Both Parklets and Outdoor Dining General
1. All installations must receive City evaluation and approval for Planning/Zoning issues, design, accessibility/ADA compliance, and traffic safety, and from the Police Department and Fire Marshall. A Minor Use Permit is required if the installation will abut a residential use.
2. All installations shall require a Building Permit, unless the Community Development Director determines that this requirement may be waived.
3. Any installation on public property will require the subject business to enter into a License Agreement with the City, liability insurance to meet City’s standards, and, in the case of a parklet, payment of an annual rental fee of $1 per square foot of public property occupied.
Licensee is responsible for the installation, maintenance, and upon termination of License, removal of parklet/outdoor dining and return of the space to its prior condition or better.
4. The property owner’s written permission is required for private property installations.
Design and Building
5. Installations on public property must be located directly in front of the subject business, and the linear space allocated shall generally not exceed the length of the subject business’ street frontage.
6. Furnishings, fencing, railing, and other components shall be constructed primarily of finished wood or metal. No plastic furnishings shall be allowed without City approval.
7. No business names, logos, or advertising shall be allowed on furnishings, umbrellas, fencing, lighting, barricades, diverters, planters, or other components.
8. Any signs proposed will require a Sign Permit.
2 9. Installations shall not block visibility of nearby businesses, encroach by more than 1/3 into street tree canopies, or block driveways or utilities.
10. No element of installations on public property may penetrate the street or sidewalk surface.
11. Battery- and solar-powered lights are allowed.
12. Electricity may be extended to the installation, with City approval. In general, power cords will be limited to one, and must be run overhead.
13. Gas-powered heating devices may be proposed, but will require City approval. Propane heaters must have a minimum 5’ clearance from flammable materials, and shall not be placed underneath canopies, awnings, umbrellas, or trees. Electric heaters may be used per manufacturer’s safety instructions, if electricity is available.
Safety and Accessibility
14. Any installation must preserve a minimum 4’ unobstructed path of travel along sidewalks.
15. All outdoor dining and parklets must be maintained in a clean, sanitary condition.
16. No chemicals or hazardous substances shall be used in the maintenance of parklets or outdoor dining in such a way that they might run off into the street, gutter, and/or storm drains.
17. The City is not responsible for damage to parklets or outdoor dining from vehicles, routine City maintenance in the public right-of-way, or impacts due to emergency repairs to City utilities and/or street features.
18. Any tables, seats, counters, drink rails, and other amenity provided must include at least one each that is of an accessible/ADA-compliant design.
B. Standards Applicable to Outdoor Dining (Non-Parklet) Only
19. All outdoor dining shall provide a minimum clearance of 5’ around fire hydrants, 3’ around fire department connections on buildings, 2’ from driveways, and 10’ from bus stops, and shall not obstruct curb returns or curb ramps.
20. On public property, market-style shade umbrellas may be used and shall be made of canvas or canvas-like material. A minimum vertical clearance of 7’ is required under umbrellas; maximum height umbrellas of is 9’. Umbrellas must be stored in the closed position during non-operating hours.
21. On private property, semi-permanent covering, trellising, pergolas, and canvas shade cloths or umbrellas are allowed and shall be anchored consistent with manufacturer’s guidelines to withstand windloads, and in a manner acceptable to the City. Reasonable height of roofing/covering and supporting posts shall be as approved by the City, generally a minimum of 7’ and maximum of 10’.
3 C. Standards Applicable to Parklets Only
General
22. Parklets may only be located on streets with existing on-street parking spaces.
23. Parklets proposed for streets with speed limits of 25 or 30mph will require additional City review; parklets are prohibited on streets with speed limits of 35mph or more.
24. A maximum of two public parking spaces, or three private lot parking spaces, may be occupied by a parklet. Accessible/ADA parking spaces and loading zones may not be used for parklets.
25. A parking evaluation will be performed by the City for parklets proposed on private property to ensure that removal of parking will not adversely impact neighboring businesses or residents.
Safety and Accessibility
26. Parklets shall be located such that the entire parklet area maintains the following clearances:
a. 20’ from an intersection from the approaching direction b. 10’ from an intersection from the exiting direction
c. 10’ from bus stops
d. 5’ from fire hydrants or other fire department connections e. 2’ from any active driveway
f. Access to public utilities shall not be obstructed.
g. Parklets located within 35’ of street intersections may be prohibited or limited in height and area, at the City’s discretion.
27. Parklets shall include minimum safety buffers as follows: 4’ from adjacent parallel parking spaces; 2’ from adjacent diagonal parking spaces or perpendicular parking spaces; 2’ from traffic lanes; and 1’ from bike lanes. Safety buffers will be included in the total parklet footprint area allocated to the business.
28. Traffic safety elements shall be installed per City requirements, at applicant’s expense, and must be located within the total parklet footprint area allocated to the business. a. Traffic barricades or their equivalent will be required on all non-sidewalk sides of a parklet. Potential barricades may include steel stock tank planters, heavy wood planter boxes, or similar objects.
b. Wheel stops will be required for parklets occupying parallel parking spaces. c. Edges and corners of parklets should be marked with yellow high-intensity retroreflective tape or reflectors to be visible to drivers at night. d. The City may require additional safety measures at its discretion.
29. Each parklet shall include a readily visible address for emergency responders. 4 Design and Building
30. Parklets shall be delineated by open fencing or other approved barrier material of 30” to 42” high. Intermittently-placed posts exceeding 42” are allowed to support covering, but should not block clear visibility through the parklet. Fully transparent panels above 42” high to block the wind may be considered.
31. If used, umbrellas shall be made of canvas or canvas-like material, and shall be stored in the closed position when the subject business is closed.
32. Semi-permanent covering, trellising, pergolas, and canvas shade cloths are allowed and shall be anchored consistent with manufacturer’s guidelines to withstand windloads, and in a manner acceptable to the City. Reasonable height of roofing/covering and supporting posts shall be as approved by the City, generally a minimum vertical clearance of 7’ and a maximum height of 10’. Coverings shall not extend over a public sidewalk.
33. Parklets adjacent to a sidewalk/curb must have solid flooring installed to create a stable, smooth, slip-resistant ADA-compliant raised platform of less than 2% slope. The flooring must be flush with the sidewalk/curb, with no more than ½” horizontal gap and no more than 1/4” vertical gap or level change.
34. Parklet flooring must be designed and constructed to avoid water pooling underneath, allow regular cleaning underneath, and avoid impeding curbline drainage. A minimum 6” by 6” of clear gutter space must be provided along the entire length of the platform, and should be maintained so that gutter remains unblocked, including regular trash removal.
The rest of the flooring platform shall be designed to prevent debris and trash from going underneath.
Maintenance
35. The area underneath the parklet flooring platform and the adjacent gutter shall be cleaned out weekly, preferably by sweeping or blowing. Trash shall not be allowed to accumulate under or adjacent to the parklet, or to enter any adjacent storm drains.
36. Buffer areas shall be maintained and kept clear of trash and obstructions such as garbage bins, bicycles, etc.
37. Periodically, the City will need to maintain the road surface and may require the operators of parklets on public property to remove the installation for that operation.
Updated April 4, 2023