The City is excited to temporarily activate parks, alleys, and public lots for outdoor dining. New opportunities may include: along Carroll Creek Park, City Hall Park, Bonita Maas, 7th Street Fountain Park, East Street Service Road, and more! This opportunity is subject to future Mayor & Board ordinance approval.

Apply Here: Temporary Public Areas Outdoor Dining Permit

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The areas highlighted in the graphic above are examples of potential locations for permit application, and would still require formal review & approval. Businesses in search of a public Pop-Up Dining area outside of the Downtown area, can explore the City Parks Directory here.

Key Points for City Park, Alley, & Lot Dining: 

•  City will provide the park/alley/lot area
• Restaurant will assume full responsibility for all operations and cleanliness of area
• From time of issuance to October 31, 2020
• Hours of operations shall be established  – but not later than 10PM
• All furniture must be broken down, stacked and secured in an approved (on-site location) during non-business hours, where required 
• All private property (tables, chairs, umbrellas, etc.) must be removed or secured by the business owner in the event of severe weather
• Approval subject to successfully obtaining all Frederick County Health Department and Liquor Board permits / approvals
• Business must carry liability insurance for incidents that occur outdoors
• Cannot block a building’s fire department connection (FDC)
• Cannot block fire hydrants
• City is not responsible for damages or vandalism to property
• City is not responsible for trash removal
• Must be delineated by barriers which meet Liquor Board requirements when applicable
• Must complete an application and provide scaled drawing of dimensions of the area and details of the furniture to be used and operations plan.
• Tables must be space to meet CDC/Health Department requirements
• Umbrellas may be used but shall be limited in size, plain in color, and have no markings or graphics

Questions?

Contact the Department of Economic Development at 301-600-6360 or at business@cityoffrederickmd.gov. 

New to Frederick, "parklets" will temporarily convert parking spaces in front of businesses into protected eating areas. The City will install appropriate traffic barriers around delineated parking spaces. 

Restaurants along the street closure route (Market Street extending from Patrick Street to 3rd Street) are not eligible for the parklet option. If pursuing the parklet option, the restaurant may have to temporarily suspend their sidewalk cafe. The parklet opportunity is subject to future Mayor & Board ordinance approval.

Apply Here: Temporary Public Areas Outdoor Dining Permit 

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Key Points for Parklet Permits:

•  City will provide parking spaces & barriers
• Restaurant will assume full responsibility for all operations and cleanliness of the area
• An existing sidewalk dining permit may be suspended
• From time of issuance to October 31, 2020
• Hours of operations shall be established  – but not later than 10PM.
• All furniture must be broken down, stacked and secured in an approved (on-site location) during non-business hours, if required
• All private property (tables, chairs, umbrella, etc.) must be removed and secured by the business owner in the event of severe weather
• Approval subject to successfully obtaining all Frederick County Health Department and Liquor Board permits / approvals
• Business must carry liability insurance for incidents that occur outdoors
• Business will be responsible for cleaning the street routinely preventing trash, grease and debris from entering the storm-drain system.
• Cannot block a building’s fire department connection (FDC)
• Cannot block fire hydrants
• City is not responsible for damages or vandalism to property
• City is not responsible for trash removal
• Corral, tables, chairs, etc. may be placed within the “amenity zone” (parking meter / streetlamp / street tree) and the protected portion of the parking lane
• Corrals, tables, chairs, etc. shall not be placed within 7 feet of the face of buildings thus creating a clear walking zone for pedestrians adequate for social distancing
• Must be delineated by barriers which meet Liquor Board requirements when applicable
• Must complete an application and provide scaled drawing of dimensions of the area and details of the furniture to be used and operations plan.
• Tables must be spaced to meet CDC/Health Department requirements
• Trash toters shall be placed either near an open parking lane or between the barrier gaps to facilitate collection
• Umbrellas may be used but shall be limited in size, plain in color, and have no markings or graphics
• Umbrellas must not protrude into  the safety barricade zones
• Umbrellas must not protrude into the walking area

Questions?

Contact the Department of Economic Development at 301-600-6360 or at business@cityoffrederickmd.gov.

This summer, the City will introduce  temporary street closure of Market Street extending from Patrick Street to Market Space Alley. The closures will be occur Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays from 11am to 10pm.  The cross street (Church) will remain open. During these strategic closures, restaurants will have the opportunity to expand their operations onto the closed streets to more safely accommodate the weekend influx of downtown patrons. This opportunity is subject to future Mayor & Board ordinance approval. 

Apply Here: Temporary Public Areas Outdoor Dining Permit

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Key Points for Street Closure Dining:

• City to provide street area for dining and will designate areas for all permitted restaurants
• Restaurant to assume full responsibility for operations and cleanliness during times of closure
• From time of issuance to October 31, 2020
• Road Closures shall occur Friday, Saturdays, & Sundays from June 12 thru October 31st, each day from 11:00 am thru 10:00 pm (city reserves the right to adjust the days/times as needed)
• Hours of operations shall be established  – but not later than 10PM.
• An existing sidewalk dining permit may be suspended during the road closure period if deemed necessary by the City to maintain safe pedestrian travel on sidewalks
• All private property (tables, chairs, umbrellas, etc.) must be removed from the roadway and stacked or secured in an approved location all other times
• All private property (tables, chairs, umbrellas, etc.) must be removed and secured by the business owner in the event of severe weather
• Approval subject to successfully obtaining all Frederick County Health Department and Liquor Board permits / approvals
• Business must carry liability insurance for incidents that occur outdoors
• Business will be responsible for cleaning the street routinely preventing trash, grease and debris from entering the storm-drain system.
• City is not responsible for damages or vandalism to property
• City is not responsible for trash removal
• Corrals, tables, chairs, etc. shall not be placed within 7 feet of the face of buildings thus creating a clear walking zone for pedestrians adequate for social distancing
• Must be delineated by barriers which meet Liquor Board requirements when applicable
• Must complete an application and provide scaled drawing of dimensions of the area and details of the furniture to be used and operations plan.
• No private property shall be placed within 6’ feet of the center line of the street, thus maintaining a 12’ clear zone for emergency vehicles
• Tables must be spaced to meet CDC/Health Department requirements
• Umbrellas may be used but shall be limited in size, plain in color, and have no markings or graphics
• Umbrellas must not protrude into the 12’ clear zone

Questions?

Contact Donna Goff, Department of Economic Development, at 301-600-6360; dgoff@cityoffrederickmd.gov.

The City announced a temporary use  permit for outdoor dining for restaurants and craft beverage establishments  looking to add outdoor tables to new areas of private property --  including on private sidewalks, common areas, and parking areas.

Apply Here: Temporary Outdoor Seating Zoning Permit

Key Points of New Private Property Dining: 

• City will review temporary use location and provide permits free of charge
• Restaurant/property owner assumes full responsibility for all operations and cleanliness of the area
• From time of issuance to October 31, 2020
• Must obtain approval from property owner
• Approval subject to successfully obtaining all Frederick County Health Department and Liquor Board permits / approvals
• Business will be responsible for cleaning the parking lot routinely preventing trash, grease and debris from entering the storm-drain system
• Cannot block a building’s fire department connection (FDC)
• Cannot block ADA accessible route
• Cannot block fire hydrants or fire lanes
• Cannot use ADA spaces
• Must be delineated by barriers which meet Liquor Board requirements when applicable
• Must be delineated by barriers which meet MUTC Requirements, if required
• Must complete an application and provide scaled drawing of dimensions of the area and details of the furniture to be used and operations plan.
• Shall be ADA accessible
• Tables must be spaced to meet CDC/Health Department requirements
• The temporary use permit allows use of private areas including parking lots to be used for outdoor dining now.  Application can be made and approved now as long as the parking count/circulation is not being reduced below the required LMC amount. If the new outdoor dining area is on a parking lot and reduces the number of available spaces below what is required by the LMC, then a variance is needed from the ZBA to temporarily reduce parking requirement. A new ordinance is being proposed this week that would allow parking to be reduced below the required LMC amount without going to ZBA. More information to come after the June 4 public meeting.

Questions?

Contact the Building Department at 301-600-3808.