Restaurant owners can apply to the City for an encroachment agreement, allowing for the use of municipal spaces such as sidewalks in front of their businesses for temporary seasonal patios from March 1 to October 30.

As part of our Downtown and Mitton Village Neighbourhood Revitalization Project we’ve identified pop-up patios as just one way we can activate our streets, support business and create a more attractive Sarnia, while ensuring sidewalks remain accessible for pedestrians.

Temporary Sidewalk Patios

There are two varieties of permitted sidewalk temporary patios, both of which permit the business to utilize all or a portion of the sidewalk adjacent to their establishment while ensure accessible pedestrian travel.

Small-Frontage Temporary Patios

Small-Frontage Temporary Patios allow for a small patio area directly in front of the business, while leaving at least 1.5 metres of the sidewalk available for pedestrians.

Small-Frontage Temporary Patio features and requirements:

  • May include tables, chairs, umbrellas, heaters and patio perimeter railings/barriers that comply with the Sarnia Streets By-law.
  • A minimum 1.5-metre barrier free path of travel must be maintained to minimize impact on people pushing strollers, using mobility devices, or with limited vision.
Drawing of tables in front of a restaurant on the sidewalk, maintaining a 1.5 metre lane for pedestrian travel.

Sidewalk Patio with Curb Lane Platform

These patios are located on the sidewalk adjacent to the frontage of the building, with a platform located in the curb lane of the road that provides a raised, step-free sidewalk-level walking surface that conforms to Ontario Building Code and the Accessibility of Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

Sidewalk Patio with Curb Lane Platform features and requirements:

  • Patios may include tables, chairs, umbrellas, heaters, string lighting, patio perimeter railings/barriers, and patio perimeter planters.
  • All structures must be temporary, being fully removable in case maintenance, events, or other activities performed by the City must take precedence.
  • Platforms must provide a minimum 1.5-metre barrier free path of travel
  • Platforms must provide a pathway for drainage of water along the curb
  • Platforms must be wholly within the curb lane and shall not project into a driving/travel lane and must not impede road drainage at the curb line.
  • Platforms must have a bottom rail barrier with no gaps to assist navigation for individuals living with visual impairment
Drawing showing a sidewalk patio with tables, featuring a built out section into the roadway to maintain a 1.5 metre pedestrian lane.
Example of a Temporary Patio with Curb Lane.

Requirements for all types of temporary sidewalk patios

The following requirements apply to both small-frontage patios and sidewalk patios with curb lanes:

  • A certificate of insurance in the amount of no less than $2 million naming the City as an additional named insured party must be provided
  • Railings and enclosures should be a maximum of 36″ in height
  • All chairs, tables, railings and any other furniture or items used for sidewalk patio cannot be installed before March 1 and must be removed by October 30
  • The patio operator is responsible for the management and removal of litter related to the patio operation
  • No alcohol will be served at tables on the sidewalk unless the operator complies with the requirements of the AGCO

Applying for a temporary sidewalk patio

You can apply online for an agreement to operate a temporary sidewalk patio. Before applying make sure you have all the necessary documents. Consult our Temporary Sidewalk Patio Application Checklist below for more information.

Temporary Sidewalk Patio Application Checklist:

  • A certificate of insurance in the amount of no less than $2 million naming the City as an additional named insured party. Please contact your business insurance provider for more information.
  • A patio site plan detailing the limits of the patio layout, railing attachment, and the 1.5m wide pedestrian path, including the design of fence and/or railing and the method of securing it to the sidewalk. View our example site plan.

Application process

To apply for a temporary sidewalk patio:

  • Read the requirements outlined on this page
  • Gather the documentation outlined in the Temporary Sidewalk Patio Application Checklist above
  • Complete the online application
  • Engineering staff will contact you to gather further information and/or arrange for the execution of the agreement, alongside payment of fee outlined in our Fees for Service. The 2024 fee is $100.
Submit and Application Button, links to application form