Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Recovery Outdoor Dining topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners back limited extension for temporary outdoor dining; tents must meet fire code
Summary
The board supported drafting a resolution to extend temporary outdoor dining allowances through Sept. 30 while allowing other COVID‑era exemptions to expire; the town’s fire marshal and building officials said tents must obtain building permits and meet International Fire Code requirements for up to 180 days in a 12‑month period.
Bel Air — The Board of Town Commissioners discussed a draft resolution (Res. 1245‑24) on Jan. 28 to renew temporary allowances for outdoor dining while discontinuing several COVID‑era exemptions for temporary structures.
Sponsor remarks said the town should end broad COVID emergency rules but provide a limited "soft landing" for restaurants that rely on outdoor dining. The proposed resolution would extend the temporary use allowance for outdoor dining through Sept. 30 to give businesses time to adapt but would not continue all COVID emergency exemptions for temporary structures.
Town building and fire officials told the board that tents and temporary structures remain subject to the International Fire Code. Fire marshal guidance requires a building permit for tents and limits tent occupancy to 180 days within a 12‑month period unless other approvals are obtained. Town staff requested that businesses that want to keep existing tents up into the extension apply for a building permit and have their tents and materials (including fire‑retardant treatments and ingress/egress plans) inspected and approved. "If people with current tents would like to continue allowing their tent up . . . I would like to request that they get a new building permit starting at that date, say, for example, April 1st," fire‑safety staff said.
Commissioners expressed sympathy for restaurants and noted that some property owners or landlords (not the restaurant operators) have been slow to respond to permanent solutions, so the extension is aimed at allowing time to negotiate and implement permanent changes. Commissioner Chismar said the extension is intended to be the final limited extension as the town winds down COVID emergency measures, while Commissioner Taylor and others asked staff to continue outreach so businesses present concrete transition plans at the public hearing.
Ziebold and IBC were cited as two businesses that currently use outdoor dining; staff said only a small number of businesses still use full tent structures and that permits must be pursued for tents over 400 square feet or for long‑term placement.
Ending: The board asked staff to schedule a public hearing on the resolution and to notify affected businesses about the need to apply for building permits for tents by March 31 if they want to start a 180‑day permit period on April 1. No ordinance vote was taken at the work session.
