Temporary Sidewalk Patio Program

Business requirements:

• Valid business licence
• Commercial General Liability Insurance for each location with a patio permit (Not required for patios on private property)
• Written permission from your neighbouring property owner or tenant if you want to use the space in front of a neighbouring business

Patio requirements:

• An accessible design
• No structures that requires a building permit
• No structures that need to be anchored into a street or sidewalk deeper than 10 cm – 12 cm
• No gas, sprinkler, and electrical systems additions or upgrades
• No increased capacity – follow your provincial health orders for capacity
• No patio access through the business kitchen or employee-only areas
• Patios with liquor service need an exterior temporary railing
• Curbside and Large patios must have a 1 m spot available after every two parking spots/ patio for emergency vehicle access
• Available from April 15 - October 31 of the current patio season

Patio proposals must meet all patio requirements outlined in the Temporary Sidewalk Patio Program Information Guide. In addition, please click here to view the Temporary Sidewalk Patio Program - Downtown map to further guide your preparations.

There are four types of temporary patio permits:

1. Small sidewalk patio (no alcohol served)

• Furniture on sidewalk, removed at the end of the day
• No railing
• No alcohol

2. Large sidewalk patio

• Furniture on sidewalk
• Railing required
• Decking platform/ temporary sidewalk (2 x 6 in boards)
• Alcohol service if you have a liquor licence

3. Curbside patio

• Furniture on street in parking spaces
• Railing required
• Decking platform/ temporary sidewalk (2 x 6 in boards)
• Alcohol service if you have a liquor licence

4. Expanded sidewalk patio

• Furniture on sidewalk
• Railing required
• Alcohol service if you have a liquor licence

Verify your insurance

If your temporary patio is on public property, you will need proof of Commercial General Liability Insurance coverage for each location where you apply.

The insurance must:

• Have an inclusive limit of:
  • $5,000,000 public liability and property damage for large/curbside patios
  • $2,000,000 for small patios
  • Name the Corporation of the City of Oshawa as additionally insured for local road patios

You or your insurance broker must submit a completed Certificate of Insurance form within five business days of submitting this application. If we do not receive the completed certificate within five business days, we may revoke your permit.

Apply to temporarily expand your alcohol service area with the Province 

If you are serving alcohol on the temporary patio:

• Contact your Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (A.G.C.O.) representation.

Get written permission from neighbouring property owner or tenant

If you want to use the space in front of an adjacent business, get written permission from your neighbouring property owner or tenant.

Download the letter of approval template

Measure proposed patio space

Your patio needs to meet specific measurements for safety clearance. Use these measurements when you draw a plan of your proposed patio.

• Follow all measurements in the orders, notices, and guidance from the Provincial Health Officer for food service establishments and alcohol services 
• Measure the distance between your patio(s) and any nearby utility access points, fire hydrants, fire department connections, parking meters, street signs, and street lights.

Small Patio

• A minimum pedestrian clearance of 2.0 metres (m) is required
• 1.0 m from patio to fire department connection (minimum)

Large Patio

• Patio tables must have a 2.0 m distance between them
• A minimum pedestrian clearance of 2.0 m is required
• 1.0 m from patio to fire department connection (minimum)
• 5.0 m from patio to fire hydrant (minimum)
• Patio fencing/ railing can be a minimum height of 0.9 m high or a maximum of 1.2 m
• Patios near the corner of a block: 6.0 m from patio to stop sign or to the nearest edge of the closest sidewalk on an intersecting street (minimum)
• For accessibility, patio entrance to patio must be a minimum of 1.5 m
• 0.5 m from patio to utility access points (minimum)
• Temporary sidewalk must be located 1.0 m from the travel lane (minimum)
• Must have a 1.0 m space available after every two parking spots for emergency vehicle access
• Patio can be located on a maximum of two parking spots with permission from the neighbouring business if required

Expanded Sidewalk Patios

• Patio tables must have a 2.0 m distance between them
• A minimum pedestrian clearance of 2.0 m is required
• 1.0 m from patio to fire department connection (minimum)
• 5.0 m from patio to fire hydrant (minimum)
• Patio fencing/ railing can be a minimum height of 0.9 m high or a maximum of 1.2 m
• Patios near the corner of a block: 6.0 m from patio to stop sign or to the nearest edge of the closest sidewalk on an intersecting street (minimum)
• For accessibility, patio entrance to patio must be a minimum of 1.5 m
• 0.5 m from patio to utility access points (minimum)

Curbside Patios

• Patio tables must have a 2.0 m distance between them
• A minimum pedestrian clearance of 2.0 m is required
• 1.0 m from patio to fire department connection (minimum)
• 5.0 m from patio to fire hydrant (minimum)
• Patio fencing/ railing can be a minimum height of 0.9m high or a maximum of 1.2 m
• Patios near the corner of a block: 6.0 m from patio to stop sign or to the nearest edge of the closest sidewalk on an intersecting street (minimum)
• For accessibility, patio entrance to patio must be a minimum of 1.5 m
• 0.5 m from patio to utility access points (minimum)
• Patio must be located 1.0 m from the travel lane (minimum)
• Must have a 1.0 m space available after every two parking spots for emergency vehicle access
• Patio can be located on a maximum of two parking spots with permission from the neighbouring business if required

Update drawings

Sidewalk and curbside patios

Use the template and included patio requirements to draw your patio plan.

• Small sidewalk patio template 
• Large sidewalk patio template 
• Curbside patio template  
• Expanded sidewalk patio template

Save the plan as a p.d.f. file.

Temporary Private Property patios

Contact Planning Services to discuss your application by email at planning@oshawa.ca or call: 905-436-3311.

Take photos

• Include the buildings, street, and any parking meters in your photo.
• Photos from Google Street View will not be accepted.

Determine that you have all of the necessary documents

• Valid Business licence (food licence and liquor licence)
• Drawing(s) of your proposed patio 
• Photo(s) of the patio area
• Commercial General Liability Insurance
  • It is not required for private patio, but it is recommended that the business owner advise their insurance broker of the new patio to confirm liability coverage is in place.
• Letter of approval from adjacent businesses

Apply for permit

Download application form

Submit Commercial General Liability Insurance Certificate

You or your insurance broker must submit a completed Commercial General Liability Insurance Certificate by email within five business days of submitting this application. If we do not receive the completed certificate within five business days, we may revoke your permit. 

Application review and approval

Temporary patio permit requires a complete application for a curbside, small, large, or expanded sidewalk patio on public property if you meet all of the mandatory requirements.

Submit applications for a Temporary Sidewalk Patio to business@oshawa.ca.

• Application Form
• City of Oshawa Certificate of Insurance Form
• Letter of approval from adjacent businesses
• Program Information Guide
• Temporary Sidewalk Patio Program - Downtown Map