Bel Air Allows Outdoor Dining Through 2022 With One Change

BEL AIR, MD — The Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners extended legislation to allow outdoor dining in tents through the end of 2022 to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The board added a provision stating that restaurants and bars looking to have live music or entertainment outside must obtain an additional permit.

"The town of Bel Air does regulate the use of temporary structures ... for example, parking lots are for parking. As a result, a temporary use permit is required to have a tent for an event," Bel Air Town Director of Administration Michael Krantz said.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, these permits typically came once a year — on St. Patrick's Day — Krantz said.

“The future remains uncertain regarding public health threats from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Krantz said Monday, as the omicron variant has caused a surge in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in Harford County and around the world.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Krantz said the town suspended parts of its code, allowing outdoor seating at bars and restaurants to reduce the spread of the virus in the interest of public health.

"Some establishments expanded the temporary use beyond tents and outdoor dining to include events," Krantz said. "During the past several months, multiple citizens have complained about outdoor music creating a disturbance having an adverse impact on the neighborhood."

As a result, town staff recommended allowing restaurants and bars to use tents for outdoor dining through 2022 without a permit but requiring permits for special events such as entertainment.

If a business wants to have an outdoor event, including "entertainment, live bands, musicians, or music, amplified or otherwise, on a portion of their property" that is not for dining purposes, it must obtain a temporary use permit specifying the request for entertainment, according to the resolution passed by the commissioners.

Each permit for a temporary use such as music will be limited to one month.

"In the event of a complaint, the existing permit may be suspended at the Town’s discretion," the resolution says. "Any subsequent application may be denied."

Town staff will conduct outreach to inform businesses of the process.

"If they don't turn around and correct the issues [in the event a complaint is filed] ... then we're going to know that they're not learning from their mistakes," Director of Planning Kevin Small said. “That will affect how we issue these permits.”

In a decision that was unanimous, the board voted to approve the use of outdoor tents and dining structures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 through Dec. 31, 2022, and require a temporary use permit for entertainment.

A previous decision by the board allowing the use of outdoor tents was set to expire Jan. 15, 2022.

The new resolution will take effect Jan. 16, 2022.