Well-operated patios have mayor’s support for longer hours

Patios with well-behaving patrons could see their hours extended as soon as this summer if Vancouvers mayor gets his way.

A motion before council on Wednesday asks staff to work with the citys bars, restaurants and business improvement associations to figure out how to lengthen hours of operation for patios before the long sunny days are over.

I would love to see hours extended this summer for good operators, where theyre respecting the neighbourhood, or not impacting the neighbourhood at all, and can stay open a little later, said Mayor Gregor Robertson, who introduced the motion.

Right now its an 11 p.m. shutdown. Theres an immediate step that could happen with our successful patios.

Because changing the regulations surrounding licensing and hours would require a council decision and council adjourns Wednesday until the fall patio extensions could possibly be given out on an ad hoc basis, Robertson said.

During the 2010 Olympics patio hours were extended to 1 a.m.

We did extend hours for everyone a few years ago, but thats a lengthier council process, changing regulation, Robertson said.

The short-term step is looking at what we can do this summer for good operators to extend their space or hours and enable more patio use.

There are two categories of patios in Vancouver: large patios, which are normally licensed to serve alcohol, and small patios which have a few tables and chairs such as outside a caf.

As of 2012, 317 permits for large patios have been issued, along with 260 permits for small patios. Since January of that year, there have been 120 complaints lodged against businesses with food primary licenses, and 100 against liquor primary licences.

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Well-operated patios have mayor’s support for longer hours