Have your say on seasonal patios in Vaughan

Do the February blues have you dreaming of patio season? It’s not that far away! Help us plan for the future of patios in Vaughan by telling us whether or not you would like to see more of them in our community.

The City is considering allowing restaurants and banquet halls to operate seasonal patios on private property temporarily from spring to fall – but first, we want to know your thoughts. Until Thursday, March 7, you can take an online survey to have your say on the direction we should take. 

Seasonal patios are different from permanent year-round outdoor dining spaces you may see throughout Vaughan. Permanent outdoor patios are governed by a different set of rules and regulations; they must meet additional zoning requirements and receive site-specific approval. 

In contrast, the proposed seasonal patio program would be similar to the temporary outdoor patio program the City introduced as a measure to support businesses during the global COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the City passed By-law 095-2020 (PDF) and By-law 096-2020 (PDF) to temporarily allow eating establishments and banquet halls to establish or expand existing outdoor dining areas by building temporary patio structures on private property, like in plaza parking lots. These by-laws expired on Jan. 1, 2023. 

The results of the survey along with proposed next steps will be brought to Council for consideration later this year. 

For more information on the City’s licensing requirements for eating establishments and banquet halls, visit vaughan.ca/bylaw.

For updates and news as they happen, subscribe to Vaughan News and follow the official corporate channels on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.