Outdoor dining in Denver extended until October 2021

DENVER—The City and County of Denver is allowing restaurants and bars in the city to continue with their outdoor dining programs until at least October 2021, the mayor's office announced.

The original outdoor dining allowance, which began in the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was set to expire on October 31, 2020.

“We’re proud this program has been a lifeblood for expanded serving capacity to help keep Denver businesses open and their employees working,” Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock said in a news release. “We will work with restaurants and bars on creative models that allow them to extend this program through the cold weather months, while maintaining the strenuous protections in place to prevent COVID-19 transmission.”

According to the mayor's office, 333 bars and restaurants in Denver have expanded their services outdoors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses who wish to take part in this expansion can fill out a request here.

Bars and restaurants whose outdoor dining infrastructure does not block a public right of way can apply for 120-day approval extensions for their outdoor seating. After approval, they can apply for further extension up until October 2021.

For those businesses that do block right of ways with their outdoor seating, they will have to apply for 90 day extensions.

More information on this program is available here.

The mayor's office also noted that if neighborhoods feel outdoor dining has led to issues to like "concerning noise levels," those residents are entitled to request a public hearing.

Finally, the city's application process also allows for bars and restaurants to apply for permanent outdoor dining capabilities. That application can be filled out here.