The Solana Beach City Council approved a second reading May 27 of an ordinance that outlines the types of structures that are allowed in public spaces used for outdoor dining.
“While providing shade for outdoor dining was expected, it was not intended to allow for the construction of permanent shade structures within the sidewalk or parking space,” according to a council agenda report.
The city has been working to accommodate outdoor dining ever since it became a popular feature during the Covid-19 pandemic, when restaurants had to adapt to public distancing requirements.
The updates to local law indicate “that only umbrellas may be used in public spaces for outdoor dining and would clearly prohibit any construction of permanent shade structures on the public sidewalks, public streets, or public parking areas,” according to the agenda report.
Some of the provisions include allowing sidewalk cafes to have removable railings or fencing as dividers from the public sidewalk, prohibiting solid walls in the right of way, and allowing solid walls and windscreens in outdoor areas that are not in the right of way.
“The furnishings of the interior of a sidewalk cafe shall consist of readily movable tables, movable chairs, and movable umbrellas,” according to the text of the ordinance. “For the purposes of this section ‘readily movable’ shall mean that no object such as a table, chair, planter, or any other fixture, shall be leaded, cemented, nailed, bolted, power riveted, screwed, or affixed, even in a temporary manner, to either the sidewalk or to any other structure which it abuts, unless required by building or fire code.”
The ordinance also allows canopies, umbrellas and other shade structures if they are compatible with the materials, colors and design features of the building where they are located.