L.A. Al Fresco Application Portals Are Open, Webinar to Be Held Soon
The City of Los Angeles has announced that the application portals for the L.A. Al Fresco program are now open. Initially launched in May 2020 as a temporary initiative to support restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic, L.A. Al Fresco allowed for streamlined approvals for outdoor dining on private property, sidewalks, and adjacent streets. Due to its success, the city is now offering permanent permits for outdoor dining.
Businesses with Temporary Al Fresco Authorizations in the public right-of-way should apply early to benefit from the Al Fresco Small Business Fee Reduction Program. This program is ending soon. Temporary Authorizations will expire on July 31, 2024, and businesses must transition to permanent permits to continue operations.
Applicants must use the same email associated with their temporary authorization to import their information successfully. For assistance, contact ladot.alfresco@lacity.org.
Businesses can apply for a Revocable Permit online at engpermits.lacity.org/rpermits/Public. Applications for outdoor dining areas on private property must be submitted via ePlanLA (eplanla.lacity.org), the city’s Electronic Plan Review system. This system streamlines the process of applying for building permits and submitting plans for review.
The permanent program includes one-time fees for On-Street and Sidewalk Dining that do not require renewal. If both sidewalk and on-street dining are under the same application, only one Special Engineering Fee is required. Fees include Submittal Fees, collected at plan submission, and Final Fees, collected at permit issuance. Fee calculations depend on project construction valuation or expected review hours for non-construction projects. The LADBS Permit Fee Calculator can provide estimates.
For restaurants not serving alcohol in outdoor areas, a City Planning review is not required unless the project is in a specific zone with additional regulations. For those intending to serve alcohol, streamlined administrative authorization is required.
The City is holding webinars to assist business owners in navigating the new program. The next webinar is scheduled for June 5, 2024, focusing on Coastal Zone regulations. Spanish translation is provided. RSVP at bit.ly/LACityalfresco_060524.
The L.A. Al Fresco Small Business Fee Reduction Program, funded by the American Rescue Plan (ARPA) Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF), offers subsidies up to $3,000 for eligible businesses transitioning from Temporary Use Authorizations to Revocable Permits. This initiative is a partnership between the Mayor’s Office, LADOT, the Bureau of Engineering (BOE), and the Economic & Workforce Development Department (EWDD).
The city’s ten Business Source Centers provide free assistance to help businesses apply for Al Fresco and other services. These centers offer support in multiple languages, including Spanish, Armenian, French, Korean, Mandarin, Russian, and Vietnamese. Find a center near you at ewdd.lacity.gov.
For more information and to apply for the permanent Al Fresco program, visit engpermits.lacity.org/rpermits/Public and eplanla.lacity.org.
