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Council passes first reading to loosen outdoor restaurant seating limits in commercial-general zones
Summary
On first reading the council approved a Land Development Code text amendment removing a fixed 20 percent cap on outdoor restaurant seating and instead tying allowable outdoor seating to the leasable area and ADA and safety requirements; the ordinance will return for second reading Oct. 18.
On Sept. 20 the City Council voted on first reading to amend the City of Temple Terrace Land Development Code to change how outdoor seating for restaurants in the Commercial General zoning district is regulated.
Senior Planner Gus Karpus told council the current code ties outdoor seating to a percentage of indoor seating (20 percent of enclosed seating capacity). The proposed ordinance removes that percentage cap; under the amendment outdoor seating would be limited to area the business controls or leases, must provide unobstructed pedestrian paths meeting Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards (minimum 36-inch clear path), may not encroach on neighboring properties' controlled outdoor areas, and will be subject to staff site-plan review and approval. Conditional use permits and public hearings would no longer be required for area-based approvals; higher-than-configured arrangements would continue to require review.
Council said the change aligns with post-pandemic business trends favoring outdoor dining and that it aims to create a clearer, area-based standard that still protects pedestrian circulation and neighboring businesses. Several council members emphasized the need for staff outreach to existing businesses once the ordinance is final so operators understand new permitting and compliance steps.
The council approved Ordinance 15-37 on first reading; the ordinance will return for a required second reading and public hearing on Oct. 18.
