PRIVATE PROPERTY

SIDEWALK

ON-STREET

A: In cases where an applicant wants to transition both sidewalk dining and on-street dining together, that can be done under a single R-Permit with the addition of any applicable review fees for the additional component. However, if the applicant has multiple businesses at different locations, a separate permit application is required for each location.

Private property permits must be submitted separately to the Department of Building and Safety.

Alcohol permits must be submitted separately, to the Department of City Planning and are free for existing temporary program participants.

A:

ON-STREET DINING

All fees associated with sidewalk dining and on-street dining can be found on the Al Fresco website (see ‘Estimated Costs’ section). All fees are collected one time and there are no renewal or annual fees.

PRIVATE PROPERTY DINING

Alcohol Authorization

If a restaurant intends to serve alcohol in the outdoor dining area, whether on private property or within the public right-of-way, City Planning alcohol authorization is required, and may be obtained through the streamlined administrative Al Fresco Alcohol Authorization process.

If a restaurant intends to serve alcohol in the outdoor dining area, whether on private property or within the public right-of-way and does not have an existing temporary authorization, City Planning alcohol authorization is required and may be obtained through a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) process or may apply through the Restaurant Beverage Program (RBP). For more information about the Planning processes, please email Planning.BESt@lacity.org.

No additional fees for an Al Fresco Alcohol Authorization apply to restaurants that have a valid Temporary Use Authorization (TUA) from LADOT. A processing fee of $398.52 applies to restaurants that do not have a Temporary Use Authorization.

Effective January 27, 2025, the Al Fresco program will not apply to businesses and restaurants located within the Downtown Community Plan Area. It will be replaced with the Alcohol Sales Program (ASP). The Alcohol Sales Program (ASP) allows qualified eating and drinking establishments in certain areas within the Downtown Community Plan to receive authorization to serve alcohol on-site through a process that takes less time and at a lower cost than a typical Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application process. ASP would replace the Citywide Restaurant Beverage Program (RBP) and the Al Fresco program with new “Alcohol Permission Areas” in the Downtown Community Plan. In lieu of RBP and Al Fresco alcohol authorizations, eligible establishments seeking an administrative alcohol authorization in certain areas of Downtown may pursue administrative authorization under the ASP. To learn more about the ASP and applicability, please contact the Department of City Planning’s Beverage, Entertainment, and Streamlined (BESt) unit at Planning.BESt@lacity.org.

Fees are based on the project’s construction valuation. If no construction work is being proposed, such as for uncovered outdoor dining, fees are based on the expected number of hours for plan review or inspection. LADBS permit fees can be estimated using the LADBS Permit Fee Calculator.

For a comprehensive overview of the general fees for each type of Al Fresco permit, please see the table in the website.

As part of the LADBS plan check review process, a clearance summary worksheet will be provided to the permit applicant that will list all of the required clearances which need to be approved by other agencies along with their contact information. See example in this link:

Clearance Summary Worksheet Example

A: For businesses with temporary authorizations for sidewalk or on-street dining, you have until the end of January 2026 to apply for a revocable permit. However, businesses are highly encouraged to apply early, as the process, including plan review and inspections, need to be completed by January 31, 2026. If not complete by this time, you will not be in compliance starting February 1, 2026 until your permit is issued.

All businesses which obtained an “LA Al Fresco Temporary Use Authorization” within private property must now obtain a building permit from the Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) and secure a Certificate of Occupancy to maintain their operation before January 31, 2026. If this process is not completed by this time, you will not be in compliance starting February 1, 2026, and may be subject to code enforcement actions. It is a restaurant’s responsibility to adhere to and be in compliance with updated building codes. Failure to comply may result in ceasing your operations.

For alcohol permits, you have 6 months from the time your temporary permit expires on January 31, 2026, to obtain the deemed approved status for alcohol. Applying during this period provides you a fee waiver - you do not have to pay the clearance fee to obtain it. If you cannot obtain it by January 31, 2026, you may still apply after, and the process will be the same, but a clearance fee will be applied.

A: Sidewalk and on-street dining revocable permits do not have an expiration date and do not need to be renewed. They will remain valid until the time in which the permit is revoked (voluntarily or due to enforcement action), or if there is a change in ownership.

LADBS Certificates of Occupancy are issued in perpetuity and do not need to be renewed unless revoked.

A:

ON-STREET DINING

Businesses can expect to be contacted within 1-2 weeks of submitting their application. The amount of time to complete an application will depend on the type of items you have in your dining area, the clearances and plan reviews those items will require, and how quickly businesses provide plans, make required modifications to their dining area, and pay invoices. We encourage businesses to apply early, which will provide you with plenty of time to complete the process.

SIDEWALK DINING

For transitioning sidewalk dining applicants who have a temporary use authorization, after the applicant acknowledges to comply with the disability access requirements and pays the required fees, the Revocable Permit will be issued immediately. However, the applicant is required to complete the Sewer Facility Charge, Waiver of Damages, and liability insurance requirements within 6 months after permit issuance. If the requirements are not met within 6 months, the R-Permit can be revoked. New sidewalk dining applicants are required to submit a plan or sketch of the site and a copy of the lease agreement (if applicable). After receiving a complete application, BOE will perform a technical review and generate a list of Permit Requirements which include the Sewer Facility Charge, Waiver of Damages, and liability insurance requirements among others as applicable. The R-Permit will be issued after all Permit Requirements are completed. The majority of the process will depend on how quickly the applicant completes the Permit Requirements.

PRIVATE PROPERTY DINING

All businesses which obtained an “LA Al Fresco Temporary Use Authorization” within private property must now obtain a Building Permit from the Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) and secure a Certificate of Occupancy.

Depending on the scope and size of the project, there are three types of reviews available:

All existing and new restaurants proposing to provide outdoor dining on private property are encouraged to utilize the department’s Restaurant and Small Business Express Program for technical assistance and guidance.

Counter Plan Check and Expanded Counter Plan Check are available for small projects in which plan check review can be completed between one to five business days, and corrections, if any, are issued at the end of the review.

Projects that do not qualify for either Counter or Expanded Counter Plan Check review are considered Regular Plan Check. Permit issuance is dependent upon how quickly applicants address any comments/corrections and how quickly applicants obtain the necessary clearance approvals from other City departments.

After permit issuance, inspection is required to ensure the work and site are in compliance with the approved plans and permit conditions. Inspection can be scheduled in 1 to 2 business days. Applicants have up to two years to complete all work associated with the permit and receive final inspection approval from LADBS.

In an effort to help businesses transition to the permanent program expeditiously, the City’s Department of Building and Safety has launched the Al Fresco Fast-Track Permit Program. The Al Fresco Fast-Track Permit Program on Private Property is available for outdoor dining where only moveable furniture is used, such as moveable tables, chairs, planters, and umbrellas, subject to additional criteria in the form linked below. To apply, please complete the Fast-Track permit checklist, attach the plot plan, and submit it to LADBS by using the ePlan process https://eplanla.lacity.org/.

A: The Sewer Facilities Charge (SFC) is collected by the Bureau of Engineering (BOE) for the Bureau of Sanitation (LASAN) to pay for sewer system improvements. The SFC is charged to businesses when construction and use triggers a net increase in flow and/or sewage strength. The Sewer Facility Charge fee per seat is a one time fee which is tied to the lot. Additional seating in a restaurant is an example of a trigger due to a net increase in flow in a sewage system.

For On-Street/sidewalk dining transitioning applicants can pay for the Sewer Facility Charge (SFC) fee in the R-Permit portal as the invoice will be generated automatically. For new applicants, the SFC invoice will be generated after the plan checker accepts/approves the design. The invoice can also be paid in the R-Permit portal.

Typically, a SFC certificate is processed and issued in the S-Permit portal. To provide a streamlined process, the R-Permit portal has been updated to allow applicants to pay the SFC invoice and receive the SFC certificate in the same portal without creating a new S-Permit application.

Change in SFC (Sewer Facility Charge)
It is recommended to identify the number of seats as accurately as possible when applying for a Revocable Permit. If there is a reduction in the number of seats as a result of a change in the layout after receiving a SFC certificate, the applicant can contact BOE for a new SFC certificate in which a credit amount could be applied.

Limited Service vs. Full Service
A full service restaurant typically has a table service and a team of waiters that offers meals on the premises for immediate consumption. A limited service restaurant typically has a checkout counter for ordering, paying, and picking up the meals.

A: Yes, all outdoor dining areas located in the Coastal Zone will be subject to the California Coastal Act, including the Coastal Development Permit (CDP). Please contact City Planning’s Project Planning team at Planning.alfrescoCDP@lacity.org for any questions or inquiries about your individual project.

For on-street Al Fresco ONLY: Businesses with existing equipment and barriers provided by LADOT can keep them for their permanent installation at no cost. As of February 2024, these equipment and barriers are the responsibility of the business owner to maintain and replace. New applicants are required to procure and install any required barriers and safety elements.

LADOT has a limited inventory of equipment and barriers available and will issue them to new applicants on a first-come first-serve basis.

A: A Revocable Permit does not provide permanent full-time use of the space. A Revocable Permit can be revoked at any time by the City for a variety of reasons. City staff, utilities, and permitted contractors may need temporary access to the streets and sidewalks for construction, utility work, or for emergency access. Businesses will be responsible for removing all furnishings during this time and re-installing after the work is completed. This will be at the sole cost of the business. For this reason, the City encourages furnishings that are easily movable, and keeping to a number of furnishings that the business can reasonably store.

A: StreetsLA’s Investigation and Enforcement Division is the enforcing agency for on-street and sidewalk dining in the public right-of-way. StreetsLA will be notified to investigate any complaints. Citations may be issued for non-compliance and permit violations may result in revocation of the permit. Businesses must comply with all rules found on their Revocable Permit.

A:

SIDEWALK DINING

Since a Sidewalk Dining Revocable Permit is for restaurants, you can only apply for a permit for an existing restaurant.

ON-STREET DINING

An On-Street Dining Revocable Permit will only be reviewed and issued to a business that is open and operational. This is due to the fact that on-street dining replaces parking spaces on the street that are used by the public and the City wishes to minimize impact to the public. On Street dining revocable permits are not transferable, and restaurant owners are required to takedown all furnishings and restore the public right of way to its original condition if the business is sold or permanently closed.

A: For transitioning applicants that want to transition both sidewalk and on-street dining, they will need to go to the online BOE Revocable Permit application which will guide them to answer the pre-screening questions and proceed with the appropriate process. The applicant can apply for a Revocable Permit at engpermits.lacity.org and click on the “Online Service Available” link under the Revocable Permit section.

A: For On-Street Al Fresco Only: A map of the streets that qualify for Curbside Dining can be found here. Parking lane map forthcoming.

A: LADOT has design requirements for on-street dining which are available here. These describe what dining areas on the street must look like and all requirements for barriers.

For more information on sidewalk dining, please visit the online permit manual at https://engpermitmanual.lacity.org/revocable-r-permits/technical-procedures/02-al-fresco-sidewalk-dining.

A: SIDEWALK DINING: the transitioning applicants are required to have the existing dining facilities comply with the disability access requirements. For new applicants, BOE will perform the accessibility review as part of the technical review.

A: ON-STREET DINING: the transitioning applicants are required to have the existing dining facilities comply with the disability access requirements. For new applicants, BOE will perform the accessibility review as part of the technical review.

A: SIDEWALK DINING
For sidewalk dining, businesses can apply for a permit while the restaurant is under construction. BOE can work with you if a Building Permit from LADBS is in process to open a new restaurant.

A: ON-STREET DINING
For on-street dining, businesses must be open and operational before they would be approved for on-street dining, in order to minimize the amount of time that parking spaces are displaced from the public.

A: FOR ON-STREET: If you have an on-street dining area that has tall vertical columns/posts (typically used for hanging string lights or a canopy), you will have to submit structural plans for review and pay a structural review fee. This will be the City's first review of your structure, as plans were not previously reviewed by the City. If your dining area does not have tall vertical columns/posts, you do not need a structural review, but will still need to have a general site plan prepared and approved.

A: SIDEWALK DINING: Railings, planters, and other structures are not allowed in the transition process. Therefore, there should be no structural review for sidewalk dining. However, if the business would like to add railings, planters, and other structures to the proposed encroachments, please submit a Customer Service Request (CSR) to inform the BOE staff of the added encroachments at https://engpermits.lacity.org/public. Please be advised that additional review, permit fees, and plans will be required. In addition to a Revocable Permit, an A-Permit will also be required for fixed railings/planters in the public right-of-way.

A: For sidewalk and on-street dining, your application should include the property line, all existing street furniture, configuration of tables and seats, exits, aisle widths, and all disabled access features. It is not required to be drafted by a professional architect if there are no fixed railings.

A:

SIDEWALK DINING:

There are currently no sample site plans for sidewalk dining. However, the plan is not required to be drafted by a professional architect if there are no fixed railings. The plan should include the property line, all existing street furniture, configuration of tables and seats, exits, aisle widths, and all disabled access features. In addition to that, the Bureau of Engineering has created the LA Al Fresco Disabled Access Toolkit to assist applicants to guide businesses in meeting their obligations to provide equal access to customers with disabilities. The toolkit can be found by using the following link.
https://engpermitmanual.lacity.org/revocable-r-permits/reference-foundational-materials/mayors-directives/al-fresco-ada-toolkit

ON-STREET DINING: Sample site plans for on-street dining are available and can be accessed by emailing LADOT at ladot.alfresco@lacity.org so that staff can determine which sample is best for you.

A: For sidewalk dining, encroachments will need to have a minimum 5-ft clearance from the fire hydrant.

For on-street dining, encroachments will need to have a minimum 15-ft clearance from a fire hydrant.

A: As part of the Revocable Permit process, for sidewalk dining and on-street dining, a Waiver of Damages is required to be signed and notarized by the applicant or business owner. The Waiver of Damages form will be drafted by the BOE plan checker after all other Permit Requirements have been completed. Please submit a Customer Service Request (CSR) to request for the Waiver of Damages form and include the Application Reference Number as part of the request. To submit a CSR request, please use the following link.
https://engpermits.lacity.org/public

A: A public restroom is not required in order to obtain a Revocable Permit for sidewalk or on-street dining.

Two sample site plans are available under the ‘Private Property’ section of this website. Site plans are required to meet the following:
Fully dimensioned site plan drawn to scale showing all existing buildings. Indicate the uses, occupancy and number of stories of each building. For the new covered structure, plans shall also specify the type of construction and size as well as information regarding fire sprinkler and/or fire alarm systems when provided. Plans shall show lot dimensions, property lines, street(s), alley locations, easements, the distance between the new covered structure and interior property lines, the centerline of adjacent streets and alleys, as well as to other adjacent buildings on the lot (building code fire separation distance).

A: For private property all plans and written records of computations submitted for a permit are required to be signed by either a California Professional Engineer or California Licensed Architect with the following exemptions listed in this information bulletin IB/P/BC 2023-073 for further information on Policy for Stamped Plans by Engineer or Architect.

A: Depending on the scope and size of the project, there are three options available:

Counter Plan Check and Expanded Counter Plan Check are available for small projects in which plan check review can be completed between one to five business days, and corrections, if any, are issued at the end of the review.

Projects that do not qualify for either Counter or Expanded Counter Plan Check review are considered Regular Plan Check. This process typically takes 5 to 8 weeks for corrections to be issued. Applicants can also request and pay an additional fee for Expedited Plan Check which can reduce that time frame by 2 to 3 weeks.

Permit issuance is dependent upon how quickly applicants address any comments/corrections and how quickly applicants obtain the necessary clearance approvals from other City departments. Counter or Regular Plan Check correction verification appointments can be scheduled in 2 to 5 business days.

After permit issuance, inspection is required to ensure the work and site are in compliance with the approved plans and permit conditions. Inspection can be scheduled in 1 to 2 business days. Applicants have up to two years to complete all work associated with the permit and receive final inspection approval from LADBS.

Restaurant owners and operators may utilize LADBS' complementary Restaurant and Small Business Express Program (RSBEP), The RSBEP program is open to all restaurants and bars regardless of scope, valuation, or participation in the Al Fresco program. The RSBEP helps expedite the approval process by providing assistance to business owners as well as their design and construction teams at any stage of permitting at no cost.

Yes, in an effort to help businesses transition to the permanent program expeditiously, the City has launched the Al Fresco Fast-Track Permit Program. The Al Fresco Fast-Track Permit Program on Private Property is available for outdoor dining if you meet the criteria outlined in the application form. Please refer to the Fast Track application for more information: Fast Track Application Form.If you have any questions please contact LADBS at LADBS-OutdoorDining@lacity.org.

A: Private property operators are required to provide only one parking space, unless the business meets one of the three exemptions. Those exemptions are:

1. The primary restaurant contains 3,000 square feet or less of floor area, or
2. The outdoor dining area is 1,000 square feet or less, or
3. The restaurant is not required to provide parking spaces per state or federal law.

A: If a structure was constructed on private property without a building permit from LADBS, a permit will be required to maintain operation of the Al Fresco space once your temporary authorization expires on January 31, 2026.

A: Outdoor dining areas create an increase in occupant load and must provide plumbing fixtures per the Los Angeles Plumbing Code.

Additional restroom fixtures are not required if the outdoor dining area is uncovered and under 1,500 sq. ft. However, if a structure adds floor area or the uncovered dining area exceeds 1,500 sq. ft., plumbing fixture calculations will be required and the project may require additional fixtures.

A: Eligible Fast Track Al Fresco Projects will be exempt from providing existing floor plans. For those projects which are not eligible for the fast track program, existing dining room floor plans will be required in order to provide an accurate occupant load calculation.

A: For the purpose of implementing the Al Fresco ordinance, a “restaurant” is an establishment that provides any food and drink items for sale and service to patrons. This definition includes food-serving establishments that serve alcohol for on-site consumption that adhere to the Al Fresco conditions. An operation requesting Al Fresco Alcohol Authorization will need to demonstrate that it is a “restaurant” allowed to use the ordinance by providing a menu with food items for sale and served during all operating hours. The program will continue to be available to all eating and drinking establishments, and may include restaurants, cafes, fast food outlets, coffee shops, bars, breweries, wineries, tasting rooms and other similar places of public accommodations.

A: Any alteration to food services must get a sign-off from the LA County Department of Public Health, per the Building Permit Clearance Handbook A clearance will be added to the Clearance Summary Worksheet (CSW). To process an LA County Department of Public Health clearance, an applicant may either visit the satellite office located at 5050 Commerce Dr., Baldwin Park, CA or contact the office at (626) 430-5560.

A: Al Fresco outdoor dining on private property that exceeds 100 occupant load outdoors triggers a fire department sign-off. (Triggered through the Fire Department when shown on the plans).

A: An Outdoor Dining Area under the Al Fresco rules does not require review under the City’s Specific Plans and zoning overlays. For questions specific to your project, please contact LADBS at LADBS-OutdoorDining@lacity.org. See ZI-2517 for clarification on what scopes of work will and will not trigger a Specific Plan review:
https://zimas.lacity.org/.

A: Yes. If a restaurant intends to serve alcohol in the outdoor dining area, whether on private property or within the public right-of-way, City Planning alcohol authorization is required, and may be obtained through the streamlined administrative Al Fresco Alcohol Authorization process. See below for instructions if you have an existing conditional use permit or other existing authorization to serve alcoholic beverages.

Application requirements are available on City Planning's Alcohol & Entertainment webpage. Once application materials are ready, submit the request on City Planning’s Online Application System (OAS).

No additional fees for an Al Fresco Alcohol Authorization apply to restaurants that have a valid Temporary Use Authorization (TUA) from LADOT. A processing fee of $398.52 applies to restaurants that do not have a Temporary Use Authorization.
https://planning.lacity.gov/project-review/alcohol-sales
https://plncts.lacity.org/oas

This streamlined process simplifies approvals for both new outdoor alcohol service applications and TUAs, making it easier for restaurants to expand their operations responsibly.

Effective January 27, 2025, the Al Fresco program will not apply to businesses and restaurants located within the Downtown Community Plan Area. It will be replaced with the Alcohol Sales Program (ASP). The Alcohol Sales Program (ASP) allows qualified eating and drinking establishments in certain areas within the Downtown Community Plan to receive authorization to serve alcohol on-site through a process that takes less time and at a lower cost than a typical Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application process. ASP would replace the Citywide Restaurant Beverage Program (RBP) and the Al Fresco program with new “Alcohol Permission Areas” in the Downtown Community Plan. In lieu of RBP and Al Fresco alcohol authorizations, eligible establishments seeking an administrative alcohol authorization in certain areas of Downtown may pursue administrative authorization under the ASP. To learn more about the ASP and applicability, please contact the Department of City Planning’s Beverage, Entertainment, and Streamlined (BESt) unit at Planning.BESt@lacity.org.

A: Contact the LA/Metro district office of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for questions related to their licensing procedures and standards.They can be reached at (213) 833-6043 or LAMetro@abc.ca.gov.

A: In order to serve alcohol anywhere in the City of Los Angeles, a restaurant needs two key approvals : 1) a local City authorization, and 2) an alcohol license from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. These approvals are issued through separate agencies with distinct requirements and procedures.

For local Al Fresco Alcohol Authorization, a restaurant is required to have an existing primary alcohol authorization through one of the following:

1. a Conditional Use Permit,
2. a Restaurant Beverage Program authorization, or
3. Proof of continuous alcohol sales with no conditional use approval prior to March 1, 1977
4. If your business is located within the Downtown Community Plan Area, you may be eligible to apply for the Alcohol Sales Program

If a restaurant holds one of these authorizations, it may request an Al Fresco Alcohol Authorization clearance to extend alcohol service onto an outdoor dining area.

Please note that the City’s Al Fresco temporary use authorizations will expire on January 31, 2026. In order to continue serving alcohol in an outdoor dining area after this date, restaurants must obtain a new Al Fresco Alcohol Authorization application. For questions about alcohol licensing procedures and requirements from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, please reach out to the LA/Metro district office of the ABC at (213) 833-6043 or LAMetro@abc.ca.gov.

A: No. Establishments with a valid Conditional Use Beverage Permit (CUB) with conditions relating to outdoor dining areas are not required to apply for an Al Fresco Alcohol Authorization, provided that the outdoor dining area conditions are met. If the approved outdoor dining area is located on the sidewalk, the operator must obtain a Revocable Permit from the Bureau of Engineering.