Annapolis' Outdoor Dining Rules To Change Nov. 1

ANNAPOLIS, MD —The days of extensive outdoor dining options in Annapolis appear to be coming to an end as the city's Recovery Zones program for dining in parking spaces and parking lots will expire on Nov. 1.

The program, which was established last spring by Mayor Gavin Buckley, will be discontinued because the city is no longer under a pandemic State of Emergency, officials aid.

Under the State of Emergency, there were two types of outdoor dining options extended to restaurants in Annapolis: dining in public spaces, often parking spaces, and dining in parking lots.

For the last year and a half, downtown businesses took over street parking spaces to create "parklettes" for outdoor dining.

But officials have said that with colder weather approaching, there will be less interest in outdoor dining. Plus, retail businesses will need parking capacity to be restored during the holiday shopping season. In a release, officials called this "a critical time for the economic survival of local retail."

The other new outdoor dining option during the pandemic was putting tables in areas previously designated as parking lots. However, keeping this going long-term would require a change in the zoning code, and for businesses to provide an alternative parking program, according to officials.

Though changes are on the way, Buckley said he is a strong proponent of outdoor dining options after receiving positive feedback from residents and visitors during the State of Emergency. The mayor said restoring some of these outdoor dining options will require legislative action from the Annapolis City Council.

"The momentum on this issue seems to be on the side of it continuing," Buckley said. "The pandemic opened our eyes to the utility of it, but it turns out that lots of people think it is a cool thing to enjoy a meal out-of-doors."

Of course, businesses with a sidewalk dining permit can continue their outdoor dining program.

But Buckley is encouraging residents to petition members of the city council on legislation that would restore outdoor dining in public spaces and expand the footprint of businesses that don't qualify for sidewalk dining permits.

At its meeting on Monday, the city council did approve outdoor dining leases for five downtown businesses in the Market Space area. The leases, which begin Nov. 1, involve a fixed daily amount paid to the city for lost revenue associated with 19 metered parking spaces, officials said.