FAQs
Is outdoor dining still available in Birmingham?
Yes! Many Birmingham restaurants have outdoor dining platforms and outdoor seating.
Why did restaurants remove part of their outdoor dining areas?
Last year the city approved a temporary resolution to respond to health and safety concerns, which allowed restaurants to expand outdoor dining platforms and enabled greater outdoor dining capacity. With the removal of health and safety orders and indoor capacity limits lifted, restaurants are now returning to their pre-COVID outdoor dining areas.
Will expanded outdoor dining platforms return?
Several restaurants expressed an interest in retaining their expanded areas/platforms and have already submitted plans to the city to begin the process with a Site Plan Review, Design Review, and/or Special Land Use Permit review required per the Zoning Ordinance.
Where can residents find more information about the Zoning Ordinance and the city’s outdoor dining standards?
Learn more about the city’s Zoning Ordinance and outdoor dining standards at bit.ly/bhamzoning.
Does the city allow year-round outdoor dining?
Yes, unenclosed outdoor dining (meaning no roof with walls) is currently permitted all year. During the off-season (November 16 through March 31), unenclosed outdoor dining is not permitted in the street to allow for snow removal, but it is permitted off-street on public and private property provided that chairs, heaters and tables are brought in each evening so that sidewalks may be cleared of snow and ice. The city’s current regulations prohibit all outdoor dining enclosures, regardless of the time of year.
Would the city consider allowing enclosed outdoor dining all year?
The Birmingham City Commission recently asked the Planning Board to study year-round outdoor dining enclosures and provide a recommendation at an upcoming meeting.
How can residents share their opinion about year-round enclosed outdoor dining?
Share your thoughts and ideas about year-round enclosed outdoor dining on the City’s new public engagement platform, Engage Birmingham, at engage.bhamgov.org.