Also on March 18, the Rehoboth Beach Board of Commissioners adopted a policy that allows for year-round outdoor dining on public spaces in the Nation’s Summer Capital. The city’s policy balances the need for safe, minimum pedestrian access routes along city sidewalks with restaurants’ and diners’ desire to have outdoor dining available.
Rehoboth Beach’s new public spaces outdoor dining policy establishes a minimum pedestrian access route (PAR) of 7 feet on most downtown Rehoboth Beach sidewalks and 8 feet in the second block and 10 feet in the first block of Rehoboth Avenue. The policy allows for two-top and four-top tables placed only along the façade of restaurants that meet the city’s minimum PAR standards and other requirements.
Restaurants who believe they meet requirements may apply to the city’s building and licensing department for an annual outdoor dining license. The policy and requirements as well as an application can be found at Outdoor Dining on Public Space License | City of Rehoboth.
The application fee is $150, which covers the city’s review of the application and site; if approved, the permit fee is $163 for restaurants that do not serve alcohol and $325 for those that do. Restaurants that serve alcohol also must obtain approval from the state Office of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
For additional information on the outdoor dining policy, go to Outdoor Seating Policy.pdf (cityofrehoboth.com).
