Kansas City will continue allowing ‘street cafes’. But now restaurants have to pay
Kansas Citians can continue to dine outdoors along sidewalks and makeshift parklets, under an updated policy the Kansas City Council unanimously approved.
But after two years of waived fees, restaurants will have to pay for the privilege of those outside tables.
The new policy, approved Thursday, creates a permanent program and sets fees for sidewalk and street cafes and parklets, as well as adding an outreach requirement.
The council originally approved the outdoor dining in December 2019. But because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the council eased some regulations in May 2020, waiving fees for temporary permits and outreach requirements so restaurants could quickly offer safer dining outside.
“We wanted to make it as easy as possible for businesses to be able to add outdoor dining space,” city spokeswoman Maggie Green said.
Late last year, city staff recommended permanent changes, Jason Waldron, transportation director for the Public Works Department, told a council committee this past week.
New fees go into effect May 15. Restaurants must pay a $250 application fee and an annual license fee of $600.
Green said compared to other cities that charge $3,000 to $4,000 for outdoor dining permits, Kansas City tried to keep costs reasonable for restaurants.
“We hope that the permit fee the way that it is, is pretty low, pretty reasonable, that that will encourage more businesses to add sidewalk and street cafes permits, especially now that there’s warmer weather,” Green said.
Restaurants that have never had outdoor dining before must reach out to nearby tenants and property owners and hold a 30-day feedback period. Sidewalk cafes already in place aren’t required to do that outreach, but will have to pay the new fees.
“We think that they are a fun and creative way for residents to interact with businesses and local restaurants and bars in the city,” Green said. “It’s also a fun way to sort of reimagine what would otherwise be, a parking spot or part of the street or sidewalk, to actually utilize it for public space.”
So far the city has approved 81 permits, including 47 sidewalk cafes and 34 street cafes and parklets.
