Only 7 Sacramento restaurants have received ‘al fresco’ outdoor dining permit in 2 years

(FOX40.COM) — Seven Sacramento restaurants have been approved for a program meant to make building outdoor dining spaces easier, despite 41 eateries applying to the program since it began taking applications two years ago.

The city introduced a temporary ‘al fresco’ dining program in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic measures that restricted people’s ability to be indoors around others.

In June 2022, the city said 122 restaurants were participating in the temporary version of the program.

That summer, in response to the program’s popularity, the city introduced a permanent version of the outdoor dining initiative.

Despite an initial flow of applications in the program’s opening months, only four restaurants were approved from the time the program began to the end of 2023.

The city hired an administrative analyst to oversee the program in February of this year and another three permits have been approved since late April.

“The City supports and encourages outdoor dining for all businesses in Sacramento interested in the Al Fresco Dining program,” the city said in a statement. “Staff continue to work with businesses and owners through the unique requirements and timelines of each location.”

The city set up a $2 million grant using funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to help restaurants with the cost of building outdoor dining, with applicants able to receive up to $20,000 for work completed before the end of this year.

A Public Records Act request made by FOX40 turned up just one record in which the grant paid out money for work related to al fresco dining. $20,000 was paid to a contractor to remove and replace the sidewalk in front of Sun & Soil.

The city said some of the money from the grant also went into “design work,  the web portal and permit software” used to run the program.

The seven restaurants that have been granted permits include Beast + Bounty, Pazza Notte, Pressed (Ice Blocks location), Sun & Soil, Steamers, Gunther’s Ice Cream and Le Croissant.

Restaurants pay a fee to the city for the use of the land. Below is the city’s revised monthly fee plan set to go into effect this October:

• Patios – $100
• Large Patio (over 200sq) – An additional $100
• Central City On-street Parking Space – $150 per space
• Tables and Chairs Only – $25 for two tables, $20 for each additional table
• Outdoor dining patios with existing sidewalk cafe permits – $25

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