The City of Cranbrook is moving to extend the Licences of Occupation (LOO) required to operate downtown seasonal patios so that restaurants only need to apply once every three years with the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB), to ensure that the capital funds that they invest into their patio will be amortized over a longer length of time.

A three-year LOO would strengthen their ability to recover the costs as patios have proven to increase the volume of patrons into their licensed areas.

“Encouraging downtown patios also adds to the vibrancy of the downtown core, as we discovered during the PHO temporary closures of restaurants last spring and summer,” noted a report to council by Paul Heywood of Engineering and Development Services.

Last summer’s amended Downtown Seasonal Patio Bylaw gave restaurants an opportunity to continue to operate and enhance community vibrancy. The amendment also removed fees associated with seasonal patios until October 31, 2021.

The city wants to continue to encourage businesses to consider building patios, and serving patrons and customers alike.

To support local businesses and the revitalization in the downtown core, staff have not reinstated the administrative fees to process the applications for Downtown Seasonal Patio Permits.

Council March 14 passed three readings of Downtown Seasonal Patio Bylaw No. 4083, 2022.

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