The temporary extension of existing licensed patios on private property will be allowed once again in 2021, after Champlain Township Council approved a motion to approve applications for the extensions at council’s regular meeting on April 8.
Licensees must submit a written request, together with a site plan showing dimensions of the extended patio and layout of tables and chairs to demonstrate patio capacity that conforms to physical distancing requirements. Any requests for a temporary patio extension on municipal property in 2021 must be reviewed by township staff and presented to council for consideration and approval.
On June 12, 2020, the Ontario government amended Regulation 719 of the Liquor Licence Act to support liquor sales licencees in temporarily extending their patios and providing additional flexibility for the location of tied houses until January 1, 2021. On December 9, 2020, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario extended the temporary permissions for outdoor licenced premises until January 1, 2022.
A total of three such approvals were issued in Champlain Township in 2020, for Vert Fourchette, the Windsor Tavern and Beau’s Brewery in Vankleek Hill. The township’s Building and By-law Services Departments expressed no objection with the continuation of the temporary outdoor patio extensions for the 2021 season, indicating that few to no complaints were received during the previous season. The temporary patio extension program was also well received by the food and beverage business community.
