Dearborn: Fee Waiver For Outdoor Business Services Extended To April 30

Press release from the City of Dearborn:

Businesses are reminded they can take advantage of a free permit offered by the City of Dearborn that will allows them to expand their outdoor service areas to accommodate more customers and generate more revenue.

Since restaurants cannot serve customers indoors due to COVID-19 restrictions in place until at least Jan. 15, 2021, the City has extended the fee waiver on outdoor business services once again, this time until April 30, 2021.

This accommodation was first enacted in June 2020.

The City also is continuing to waive permit fees for outdoor heating equipment installed by restaurants.

Even when indoor dining is allowed again in Michigan, it is likely to be at reduced capacity, as it was in the fall and summer.

In response, the City, under the direction of Mayor Jack O’Reilly, and with support from the City Council, streamlined the application process and waived permitting fees for restaurants and businesses to use outdoor spaces to accommodate more customers.

Zoning requirements also have been relaxed to allow for this enhancement. Business owners will not be required to pay permit fees for heating equipment.

The City aims to approve permit applications in about 24 hours after receipt of all required information. Applications can be found at http://cityofdearborn.org/services/permits/apply-for-permits.

Although fees are waived, businesses and restaurants must get a permit to proceed on private or public property. Other provisions apply.

This means that restaurants are able to serve food outdoors, and can provide alcohol outdoors once permission is obtained from the State and proof is provided to the City.

The City has also relaxed zoning requirements, adding public property, streets and alleys as potential venues for outdoor business use.

The initiative has been spearheaded by the Economic and Community Development Department and the Property Maintenance and Development Services Department, and is endorsed by the Downtown Development Authorities, the Corridor Authorities, the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce, the American Arab Chamber of Commerce, and Wayne County.

With outdoor seating, businesses are responsible for creating enough space for social distancing, and for providing regular sanitation. Approval can be revoked for noncompliance of any of the permit provisions. Complete rules and details are found on the permit applications.

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This press release was produced by the City of Dearborn. The views expressed here are the author’s own.