New initiatives in Surrey permit the use of temporary outdoor areas to support local businesses.

May 26, 2020
Media Release

Surrey, BC - At last night’s Regular Council Meeting, Council approved the Parking to Patios and Sidewalk Queuing Space initiatives that will permit the use of temporary outdoor areas to support local businesses. The two new pilot initiatives will create a simple and flexible process that allows businesses to provide increased physical distancing opportunities in outdoor spaces to meet Provincially mandated maximum occupancy reductions as part of the Provincial Government’s Phase 2 BC Restart Plan.

“Restaurants and retailers are the backbone of our local economy, that’s why Council has made it a priority to help them recover and succeed as we gradually reopen under BC’s Restart Plan,” said Mayor Doug McCallum. “Surrey’s Parking to Patios and Sidewalk Queuing Space initiatives will give businesses the opportunity to maximize use of outdoor areas while complying with physical distancing and reduced occupancy requirements due to COVID-19. I encourage everyone to support your neighbourhood restaurants and shops as we safely move forward through Phase 2.”

Parking to Patios

The Parking to Patios initiative allows eating establishments to easily add or expand outdoor seating areas.  This initiative will create a simple and flexible process that will allow eating establishments to provide increased physical distancing opportunities in outdoor spaces adjacent to their businesses, while maintaining a level of safety and regulatory approval through a streamlined municipal process.

Sidewalk Queuing Space

This initiative allows all other retail businesses to accommodate regular customer line-ups in outdoor spaces adjacent to businesses while meeting physical distancing and reduced occupancy requirements. As with, the Parking to Patios initiative, the Sidewalk Queuing Space initiative will maintain a minimum level of safety and regulatory approval while providing a streamlined application, approval and monitoring process.

Application Instructions

For more information on the programs and how to apply, please refer to the Parking to Patio and Sidewalk Queuing Space Program bulletin.

Contact info

Media enquiries:

Oliver Lum
Communications Manager
Office of the Mayor 
City of Surrey
604.591.4519
owlum@surrey.ca