Proposed Urban Design Guidelines for Commercial Patios

The proposed Urban Design Guidelines for Commercial Patios provide guidance on how to create vibrant outdoor commercial patio spaces. The guidelines will be a resource for patio operators who are preparing to apply for temporary patio permits on public property as well as for individuals who are designing or reviewing the design of commercial patios on public or private property.

The guidelines outline various design options for commercial patios on public property, including Café Seating Patio, Wall-side Patio, Curb-side Patio, Street-side Patio, and a Combined Patio. The guidelines also provide direction for the design details for commercial patios on private and public property. Design details include subjects such as: furniture, partitions, and vegetation.

There are five design options for commercial patios located on public property. Below is a short description of what each design option is and an accompanying illustration:

1. Café Seating Patio: A Café Seating Patio is a patio that is located flush against the wall of the associated establishment and provides small-scale café-style seating.

Café Seating Patio

2. Wall-side Patio: A Wall-side Patio is located on the sidewalk and/or boulevard abutting the associated establishment and allows for a greater capacity than the Café Seating Patio.

Wall-side Patio

3. Curb-side Patio: A Curb-side Patio is located on the part of the sidewalk and/or boulevard that abuts the roadway.

Curb-side Patio

4. Street-side Patio: A Street-side Patio is located in a parking space that has been re-purposed in the outer lane of the roadway, in front of or beside the associated establishment.

Street-side Patio

5. Combined Patio: A Combined Patio is a patio that is located within two distinct areas within the Right-Of-Way, using previously outlined design options in this document. The example provided in the graphic below is a combination of Wall-side Patio and Street-side Patio.

Combined Patio

Within the Urban Design Guidelines for Commercial Patios there is also a set of design guidelines for commercial patios that may be located on either public or private property. These guidelines address the following topics:

• Foster Good Neighbour Relations
• Patio Aesthetics
• Design Priority Areas
• Heritage
• Furniture
• Umbrellas and Parasols
• Partitions
• Lighting
• Vegetation
• Non-vegetative Decorative Patio Elements

An example of a design guideline for the “Furniture” section includes: Use weather-resistant, durable and safe outdoor patio furniture that is intended for outdoor use in Ottawa weather. The use of untreated wood, breakable plastics, and non-waterproof fabrics is discouraged.

If you would like to review a copy of the draft guidelines, please submit a request to Laureen.DiNardo@ottawa.ca. Further questions or comments can also be shared by email to Laureen.Dinardo@ottawa.ca or submitted here.