Temporary Outdoor Seating for food and drink establishments
New Castle County Government approved an ordinance on August 25, 2020 which allows Delaware food and drink establishments to apply for expanding their outdoor seating capacity in response to COVID-19 indoor limitations. Plans for adding temporary outdoor seating capacity must consider local traffic patterns and noise ordinances, and boundaries must be clearly defined to prevent beverages from being carried offsite. Applicants that hold a liquor license must also have their plans reviewed by the Office of Alcoholic Beverage Control prior to receiving approval. All facilities, regardless of offering table-service or take-out, must continue to follow guidance as established in Delaware’s Recovery plan.
The Department of Land Use is currently accepting applications from restaurants that want to add temporary outdoor seating as part of their business recovery efforts. Applications will be processed as promptly as possible. Note: Temporary Outdoor Seating Use Permits cannot be processed through ePlans (please see submission details in the application below). For general questions, please email [email protected] or call (302) 395-5400.