The City of Beverly Hills Open Air Dining program is run through the Community Development Department in the Planning Division and allows restaurants to serve diners in outdoor settings which can include sidewalks and the public right-of-way use such as parklets in metered spaces. Parklets are spaces created by extending sidewalks into the public right of way, often used as outdoor seating for nearby eateries. Open Air Dining became crucial, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, as it provided safer, socially distanced dining options. During this time, the City developed a temporary solution for outdoor dining to include parklets with a no cost program titled "OpenBH." As rules and regulations relaxed after the pandemic, the City decided to offer a permanent program to include parklets which will go into effect March 1, 2024. This page provides information on how to transition from the temporary "OpenBH" program to the permanent Open Air Dining program.

OPEN AIR DINING PROGRAM APPLICATIONS AND DOCUMENTS

SUBMIT YOUR OPEN AIR DINING ONLINE APPLICATION HERE!

• Open Air Dining Parklet Design Guidelines
• Open Air Dining Sidewalk Guidelines
• Open Air Dining Fee Schedule
• Architectural Review Application
• Open Air Dining Neighbor Consent Letter
• Open Air Dining Certificate of Insurance
• Open Air Dining Sidewalk Diagram
• Open Air Dining Parklet Diagram
• Transitional Use License
• Open Air Dining Review Timelines
• Open Air Dining Submittal Checklist

OPEN AIR DINING Q & A:

• I HAVE A TEMPORARY PARKLET. DO I NEED TO RE-APPLY FOR THE PERMANENT PROGRAM?

Yes. If you have a temporary space and would like to transition to the permanent program, previous "OpenBH" participants will need to apply and pay fees for the new program by March 1, 2024.

• WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN OPEN AIR DINING SPACE VS PARKLET?

Sidewalk dining is adjacent to retail space, a parklet is located in the public right of way, such as a metered parking space.

• CAN A RETAIL SPACE APPLY FOR AN OPEN AIR DINING SPACE?

At this time retail queueing will not be part of the permanent Open Air Dining program.

• WHERE CAN I FIND THE NEW OPEN AIR DINING ORDINANCE CITY COUNCIL PASSED?

The Agenda Report can be found here.

• WHAT ARE THE FEES ASSOCIATED FOR THE PERMITS?

Fees are based on the final approved Fee schedule here: Open Air Dining Fee Schedule.

• IS THERE A SIZE LIMIT FOR THE PARKLET? SIDEWALK?

Please see our parklet design guidelines for sizes, dimensions, elevations, examples here: Open Air Dining Parklet Design Guidelines.Our sidewalk design guidelines can be found here: Open Air Dining Sidewalk Guidelines.

• WHAT DATE DOES THE OPENBH PROGRAM END?

The temporary OpenBH program has been extended until February 14, 2024 and the permanent program will go into effect March 1, 2024.

• MY PARKLET ENCROACHES IN THE NEIGHBORING FAÇADE, DO I NEED TO GET NEIGHBOR PERMISSION?

Yes. A neighbor consent letter will need to be submitted with the documents with permission granted and signed from the property owner and business owner. The application can be found here: Open Air Dining Neighbor Consent Letter.

• HOW LONG WILL MY PERMANENT OPEN AIR DINING PERMIT BE GOOD FOR?

From the final approval date, the permit will be good for a 5 year period. Annual fees apply during that time.

• HOW LONG WILL REVIEW PROCESS TAKE?

Review process is estimated by the timelines here: Open Air Dining Review Timelines.

• I HAVE A PREVIOUSLY APPROVED OUTDOOR DINING SPACE PRIOR TO THE OPENBH PROGRAM. DO I NEED TO RE-APPLY FOR THE PERMANENT PROGRAM?

Previously approved outdoor dining spaces are still valid pending permits are still active. If you are unsure, please contact us to check permit status. If permit has expired, renewal fees will apply subject to the new approved fee schedule.

• IS THERE AN EXAMPLE SITE PLAN?

Please see our sample diagrams under our Applications and Documents at the top of the webpage. 

• IS THERE A CHECKLIST/BREAKDOWN OF ITEMS I WILL NEED FOR MY OPEN AIR DINING SUBMITTAL?

Yes, please see a checklist of the items that we will require prior to submitting your application here: Open Air Dining Submittal Checklist.

For further questions about the Open Air Dining Program:

• For questions about deconstructing, meter concerns, public right of way use, contact Public Works at askpw@beverlyhills.org or (310)285-2436.
• For questions about the current program, guidelines, OpenBH, application, contact openairdining@beverlyhills.org or (310)285-1154.