Manhattan Beach council adopts long-term outdoor-dining ordinance, directs tiered fee plan

The Manhattan Beach City Council on Nov. 18 introduced and adopted an ordinance that sets rules for long-term outdoor dining in downtown and North Manhattan Beach and establishes enforcement and fee frameworks for sidewalk and private-property dining.

Senior planner Jay Hyun told the council the proposal grew from a two-plus-year task-force effort started after COVID-era temporary dining changes. He said the code amendments would allow limited net increases in occupancy for expanded outdoor dining, permit tables and chairs by right, and bring operational matters such as music, trash enclosures and alcohol service into permit rules.

“...we're finally reaching the end of this journey with two plus years of work um behind us,” Jay Hyun said, describing extensive outreach, task-force meetings and commission reviews.

Why it matters: the code aims to preserve pedestrian access and public safety while allowing businesses to maintain outdoor service that was widely used during the pandemic. Key provisions increase required unobstructed sidewalk clearance from 48 to 60 inches, limit sidewalk dining to areas adjacent to the business frontage, allow alcohol service under a use permit in some cases (linked to state AB592 relief through Jan. 2029), and prohibit regular live music except for limited special events with amplified-sound permits. Enforcement includes a three-strikes rule that can revoke a permit for repeated violations.

Council members probed practical consequences: whether pedestrian and ADA access would be preserved on narrow north-end sidewalks, how alcohol rules would interact with state ABC delineation requirements, and how parking obligations could be satisfied by off-site bicycle parking credits (a 1:5 bicycle-to-parking-space ratio was proposed as an alternative). Traffic and building divisions will still review permits for safety and ADA compliance.

The council also received a fiscal impact analysis and discussed a staff proposal for a tiered sidewalk-dining use fee tied to location and whether alcohol is served. That fee discussion will return for final direction; staff was directed to set a tiered schedule (examples discussed ranged from a base of about $4/sf to higher tiers tied to downtown locations and alcohol service).

Outcome and next steps: Council introduced ordinance No. 25-000013 and adopted the associated resolution (negative declaration) and voted to transmit Local Coastal Program amendments for Coastal Commission certification where required. Staff will finalize a tiered fee schedule per council direction and return with any refined language and the second-reading ordinance.

Speakers quoted: “The preferred program vision consisted of sidewalk widening, reconfiguring on-street parking spaces, and public flex space improvements,” Jay Hyun said, summarizing the program's evolution. The city will continue to require departmental reviews and may modify conditions to protect pedestrians and adjacent residents.

The council’s action sets operational standards and an enforcement path while asking staff to return with fee specifics and implementing guidelines for final adoption and Coastal Commission review.