The City of Denver is working to get restaurants open again with outdoor dining. This is a temporary program that would allow restaurants, bars and other business to set up outdoor spaces. The final rules and regulations are still being developed but could include parking lots, streets and sidewalks.

The idea of the program is to allow sit-down service while still maintaining social distancing and the safety of patrons.

Denver has created a webpage to gauge interest in the idea. Eligible businesses can submit a proposal for review. The proposals will need to include plans for safety, mobility, and local and emergency access. The city will begin accepting interest forms May 18th.

Eligible businesses for the program include restaurants, bars, cafes, coffee shops, taverns, brew pubs, breweries, microbreweries, distillery pubs, wineries, tasting rooms and other similar places of public accommodation offering food or alcohol beverages for on-premises consumption.

Once approved, this program will be available for the duration of the outdoor summer dining season through September 7, 2020. The city will evaluate a potential extension of the program.

In partnership with the Colorado Restaurant Association and EatDenver, a virtual information session was held on May 19.

This initiative was developed in collaboration with the Mayor’s Economic Relief and Recovery Council, an advisory group established to support the relief and recovery efforts of Denver’s economy.