ATLANTA — The city of Atlanta will now allow on-street dining outside local restaurants. The regulations were passed this month by the Atlanta City Council.
Restaurants can now serve food and drinks on the streets outside their establishment, but they must apply for a permit first. The permit is free.
Sidewalk dining is already allowed at the tapas bar Bulla Gastrobar and workers like the street dining idea.
“I’m glad a lot of places are open to doing street dining. I think it will be interesting to see and I bet there will be a lot of positive feedback,” Bulla Gastrobar supervisor Diamond Blair said.
[SPECIAL SECTION: Coronavirus Pandemic in Georgia]
The city ordinance states on-street dining would promote public health, add character to the street scape environment and encourage pedestrian activity.
Local restaurants must submit an application to the Atlanta Department of Transportation for a temporary permit through the end of 2021.
It’s something resident Andy Smith is glad the city has agreed to.
“I think it’s awesome. We need to adapt to the changing times right now,” he said.
Restaurants also have to submit a site plan for where the street dining will be.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]