On Friday, DC finally published its proposed regulations for streateries. These will be finalized later this summer.

All DC streateries will have to operate under these regulations no later than December 1st.

Key Provisions

• No generators, TVs, live or amplified music, trash storage, food prep/storage allowed
• Fully enclosed streateries not allowed
• No barriers (including ropes, chains, fencing) between sidewalk and streatery
• 2 signs on streatery with 1) business name 2) seating hours 3) seating capacity 4) emergency contact info facing sidewalk (no signs allowed to be viewable from street)
• Number of seats allowed: Total square footage divided by 15
• ADA Compliance: one ADA compliant table, streatery must be ADA accessible
• ANCs, public utilities, and owner/occupants of adjacent have 15-30 business days to review/comment on streatery plans (no protest)
• Fees being charged: $260 permit fee + $20 per square feet annual rent
  • Permit costs same as sidewalk cafes
  • Rental cost of sidewalk cafe is $5/SF for unenclosed, $10/SF for enclosed
  • Comparison: 105 square foot Parking spots (15 feet by 7 feet) in DC are generally metered at $2.30/hour (usually about 15 hours a day, 6 days a week) for a total of $10,764/year in maximum parking revenue. This program will charge the business about $2,100 annually for same parking space (though most streateries will be 2-3 spots). Some people compare this costs against Residential Parking Permits ($50/year), but virtually all streateries are in metered parking spaces
• Not mentioned: DC’s ABRA guidance says streateries can serve alcohol from 8a-midnight

The regulations are supplemented by Streatery Guidelines that were published in December 2024.

Streateries on more trafficked streets require jersey barriers, while the rest will require concrete blocks between streatery and street (like the ones you see with some of the more prominent protected DC bike lanes)