New rules on menu for Halifax patios

Restaurants, bars and cafes in the Halifax region will be getting new rules next year for their sidewalk patios.

Halifax Regional Municipality is in the process of drafting a bylaw that is expected to be in place by next season.

City spokeswoman Tiffany Chase said Tuesday most establishments likely wont notice much difference once the new rules, still being developed, are adopted.

Most cafes are already in compliance, she said via email.

Chase said the rules, in place since 1998, are being updated because the number of cafe-type setups has been on the rise in various parts of the region in recent years.

The bylaw will make procedures surrounding patios more clear and easier to enforce, she said.

Right now, non-compliance doesnt offer much in the way of flexibility to work with the business owner. With a bylaw in place, an enforcement officer would be able to work with property owners to ensure their sidewalk cafe is in compliance.

The existing policy also leaves the municipality bearing some responsibility if someone were to be injured on a patio or the pathway around it, Chase said.

Accessibility for people with mobility issues is another area that will be spelled out in the policy, she said.

Driver sight lines also need to be better addressed.

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New rules on menu for Halifax patios