City Expands Temporary Use of Public Sidewalks, Parking Spaces and Private Space Across Santa Monica to Safely Accelerate Economic Recovery
June 25, 2020 2:10 PM
Interim City Manager and Director of Emergency Services Lane Dilg issued the second revised 18th supplement to Santa Monica’s local emergency emergency declaration expanding the availability of public and private spaces to restaurants, retail and other local businesses to help enable the community to recreate, dine, and shop safely. This work builds on the expanded temporary outdoor dining approved earlier this month and work underway to expand the use of Main Street for dining and retail. These efforts are being led by the Santa Monica Economic Recovery Task Force in partnership with Santa Monica’s business improvement districts and community partners.
Based on this order, businesses will now be able to establish temporary outdoor commercial areas for outdoor dining and retail in on-street parking areas, loading spaces, adjacent sidewalk, portions of the Pier, Third Street Promenade, or privately-owned parking lots, courtyards, or other outdoor spaces with the consent of the owner or tenant. All businesses are required to implement LA County Department of Public Health reopening health protocols throughout their entire business space, both indoors and outdoors. Due to LA County Public Health’s physical distancing requirements, outdoor festivals and beer gardens are not allowed.
A current business license, the required insurance documents, and a temporary encroachment agreement are required for all uses, including dining and retail, in public spaces. There will be a self-certification checklist to start activity on private property. There is no cost for businesses to apply for the Temporary Use of Public Sidewalks and Parking Spaces program through Labor Day, and applications will be reviewed and approved by the City of Santa Monica within 48 hours.
“We are taking a measured approach to reopening with the goal of supporting safe operations for our local businesses to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” says Lane Dilg, Interim City Manager. “With expanded space to shop, dine and exercise, we hope our community will feel safe to get outside and enjoy our amazing City with public health measures in place.”
This supplement also:
- Waives existing outdoor dining license fees through August 31, 2020.
- Extends the deadline for applications for extensions of the delinquency date for business license renewals to August 31, 2020.
- Specifies that the two-year extension for planning, review, and permit-related actions applies to soft-story seismic retrofit deadlines; for any other retrofit projects, a two-year extension applies only if an application was pending as of March 13, 2020 or submitted between March 13, 2020 and the expiration of the Order.
- The authorization for temporary use of public sidewalks, parking spaces and private space is effective through September 7, 2020.
To learn more, download the application on the City’s Economic Recovery website at santamonica.gov/economicrecovery/support. For questions or to submit your application, email the City at econdev@smgov.net.
Main Street
In partnership with the Ocean Park Association and Main Street Business Improvement Association, expanded use of the public-right-of-way by temporarily reallocating parking and vehicle turn lanes to expand access for pedestrians, diners and shoppers has begun as part of the City’s economic recovery efforts to safely reopen Santa Monica in partnership with local businesses and residents. More info >
LA Department of Public Health and State of California protocols must be followed, including required use of face coverings, physical distancing, regular hand washing, and cleaning protocols.
For additional questions about all efforts to expand outdoor experiences in Santa Monica, contact the City of Santa Monica’s hotline at (310) 458-8400 or info@santamonica.gov. Sign up for emergency alerts by texting SMALERT to 888-777 and regular email updates at santamonica.gov/newsletter.
More Information
Second revision to the Eighteenth Supplement>
Temporary Outdoor Dining Website>
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Media Contact
Constance Farrell
Communications & Public Information Manager
Constance.Farrell@santamonica.gov