Outdoor seating is one of the least expensive ways to add seats in Los Angeles, and the weather allows it most of the year. Since the city made its Al Fresco program permanent, the rules are clearer, but they depend on where the tables stand.
Three kinds of outdoor space
Each has a different city department and a different permit. Dining on private property goes through the Department of Building and Safety. Sidewalk and street dining use the public right-of-way and are handled by the Bureau of Engineering and the Department of Transportation.
- Private property: a patio, courtyard or part of a parking lot
- The sidewalk in front of the restaurant
- The street: a curbside or parking-lane dining area
The permanent Al Fresco program
The temporary pandemic-era authorizations in the City of Los Angeles ended on July 1, 2026. Restaurants now need a permanent Al Fresco permit to keep outdoor seating. The city's guide for businesses explains the steps for each kind of space, and a fee reduction program has been available for small businesses. Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, West Hollywood, Santa Monica and unincorporated county areas run their own programs with their own rules.
Alcohol outdoors
Serving alcohol on a patio needs the outdoor area to be part of your licensed premises with the state, and it must be covered by your city alcohol approval. Check both before buying furniture. Reports on the city ordinance also note limits on music in outdoor dining areas.
Designing a patio that works
A patio has to stay comfortable at noon in August and on a January evening. Plan shade, heat, lighting and a surface that drains and is level enough for accessible seating. On a sidewalk, a clear walkway for pedestrians must remain, and furniture has to stay inside the permitted area. In a parking-lane dining area, the platform, barriers and visibility at corners follow city standards.
Count the seats
Outdoor seats can affect restroom requirements, parking and the conditions of an alcohol approval. Include them in the plans from the start instead of adding them after opening.
Sources
By Albert Galstyan · November 11, 2026
