Eat on the Street: City's New Policy Makes Sidewalk Dining More Flexible

Sidewalk seating may be the bane of dog-walkers and jerks who ride their bikes on the sidewalk, but if there's one thing that drunk Seattleites love, it's getting to sit outside. And during those precious 2 weeks each year when that's not a rain-soaked impossibility, the few patios around town tend to reach maximum capacity right quick.

But, in a ruling that the Mayor is calling "a big win for our local businesses and neighborhoods," the Washington State Liquor Control Board and City of Seattle are making it easier for restaurant and cafe owners to expand past the doors and onto the street.

Under the existing rules, alcohol service is limited to the areas that are directly adjacent to the building (which is why you can't ever smoke and drink at the same time. Not anywhere. Not ever.), which, on narrow sidewalks in urban cores, is pretty much impossible to accommodate.

This ruling (which the City and the Liquor Control Board still have to actually adopt, so don't get too excited yet) won't allow restaurants to entirely take over sidewalks--that wouldn't be very pedestrian friendly, now, would it?--but it will offer restaurant owners with small spaces and some sidewalk area to expand their seating and serving capacity, by making detached or non-adjacent seating and service--that is, a seating area with sidewalk in between the building and seating--a possibility. Essentially, this policy will give servers permission to cross public sidewalks to serve liquor. Amazing!

Restaurant owners who already possess a current liquor license may apply for a permit for this sidewalk seating, provided that they have enough space (as outlined by the city).

The new policy is the result of a joint effort by the Department of Transportation, the Department of Planning, the City and the Liquor Board.