HUNTINGTON BEACH : Outdoor Dining Licensing Fee Is Proposed
A boom in the popularity of outdoor eating at coffeehouses, bagel shops and restaurants, making the city what Councilman Dave Garofalo called the “outdoor dining mecca of Orange County,” has prompted city officials to consider a new licensing requirement.
The proposal would require business owners to pay a onetime fee of $30 and an annual fee of $360 to use public sidewalks for outdoor eating. Public Works Director Les M. Jones said the fee would offset the city’s cost of inspections to ensure that the public property was maintained.
Council members this week postponed a decision and asked city staff to meet with merchants, downtown residents and representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and a citizens group, Huntington Beach Tomorrow, to get their thoughts.
Jane Madera, assistant planner, said 13 applications for outdoor dining are pending, and more are expected.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
