Temporary Outdoor Patio Application

UPDATE:  Effective immediately, the City of Richmond Council (City Council) approved an extension of the Expedited Temporary Patio Program (TOP) until October 31, 2021. Further, City Council authorized the use of temporary coverings or other accessories necessary to operate outdoor temporary patios in inclement weather. This application guide and associated forms have been updated to reflect this change.

Introduction
BC’s Restart Plan allows restaurants, cafes and pubs to offer dine-in service but with several restrictions.

These restrictions may reduce seating capacity, which could have a negative impact on businesses and patrons. In an effort to reduce this impact, the City of Richmond has developed a streamlined application to allow TOP for existing restaurants, cafes, and pubs.

The TOP will allow restaurants, cafes, and pubs to have additional seating options to provide for social distancing. TOPs can be located on private property or public space. Private property TOPs are permissible on: existing floor space, existing private parking spaces, or private vehicle lanes. Public space TOPs can be located on a public sidewalk, however, the approval is subject to: location review, insurance requirements, indemnity agreement and licensing agreement with the City of Richmond.

Application Process

The TOP application is currently open and there is no application fee. However, for the use of public space, there will be a nominal fee associated with the licensing agreement. All applications will be reviewed by the City of Richmond for suitability and health and safety. The TOP program was extended until next year and all approved TOPs will need to be removed by October 31, 2021. An extension for the use of temporary patio coverings and heaters was also approved by City Council. 

An overview of the TOP application process can be found in the chart below.

Click to see full size image

Do I Meet the Requirements? 
Before applying, please carefully review the guidelines below and the requirements outlined in the TOP-1 Form to determine if your business is suitable to operate an outdoor patio.  If you have any questions on traffic and safety requirements for setting up your patio, you can contact City Traffic Operations Section via email at TrafOps@richmond.ca for information.

Application Package
 Temporary Outdoor Patio Application Form - Top-1 Form (Fillable PDF)
 Temporary Outdoor Patio Application Guide
 Temporary Outdoor Patio Sketch Form
 Temporary Outdoor Patio Sketch Form Sample
 Frequently Asked Questions

Note: After completing the fillable PDF, save it to your computer and email it with the rest of your application package.

There is no cost to apply for the temporary outdoor patio application. For more information contact:

Business Support Centre
Phone: 604-276-4114
Email: businesshelp@richmond.ca.