Which application do you need to fill out?

1.) Old fashioned sidewalk seating - needs renewal every year for sidewalk only

2.) Seating expanding into a street or parking space - think Take It Outside style street or parklet seating - needs renewal for 2021

3.) Outdoor Dining Application - (Don’t be fooled by the name!) This is for 15 minute curbside parking designation and Steel Yard kits.

Scroll down to read about each application type.

1.) Old fashioned sidewalk seating - needs renewal every year

If you would like to apply for the standard seasonal Extension of Premise from the City which allows for placing seating directly adjacent to your business along the sidewalk only. As always, this requires you apply through this application with the Board of Licenses and pay the fee. Before applying with the City, please reach out to your landlord requesting their letter of support.

2.) Seating expanding into a street or parking space - needs renewal for 2021

You are interested in the standard sidewalk seating PLUS extra space in adjacent city streets or parking spaces. You do not need to fill out the above application, but you will need to fill out the special event permit through the department of Art, Culture and Tourism. Don’t be intimidated by the process or length, we think it’s well worth the reward and we’ve done our best to walk you through the process below. (Side note - this is the same application you need for one time special events that take place on public property, i.e. sidewalk sales, block parties, etc.)

The City of Providence is generously offering to waive City Service Fees associated with these expanded closures which means no street closure fees and no deferred parking fees through 2021!

Below are step by step tips to guide you through the application. We focused on the areas we felt may cause confusion. This is sample data for your reference. Please be sure to provide information as it relates to your business.

Get started by clicking on the ‘apply here’ and follow our tips below.

• Step 2 - Select the OTHER BOX ✅and type in SEATING IN A STREET OR PARKING SPACE when selecting an event type.

• Step 3 - Download the EVENT TEMPLATE: COVID CONTROL PLAN ahead of time and have it filled out and ready to upload to your City application. If you’ve already filled this out, you can submit your form from last year.

• Step 4 - You can refer to your ‘event’ as (Your Business Name)’s SEATING IN A STREET OR PARKING SPACE.

• Step 4 - It has been suggested that you apply for the maximum days/times that you would like to have seating outdoors. In our example we apply for every Wed-Sat, beginning April 28th and lasting through December 25th, from 4pm to 10pm (This is just an example, not a suggestion). Please note you may not be approved for all the dates/hours that you apply for.

• Step 11 - The fees mentioned likely do not apply to you.

• Step 12 - If you plan on tenting any portion of the seating with pop-up tents that you own, your application will look something like this:

• Step 13 - be sure to include if you plan to have amplified music or entertainment (please tell your landlord your plans for this as well). Acoustic musicians without amplification do not need an entertainment license, but will still need to be approved by the landlord based on other tenants in the district. Applying for this entertainment via this application means you do not need to fill out a separate Entertainment License with the Board of Licenses.

• Step 20 - Your security plan can be as simple as the sample below.

• Step 21 - Your trash plan should simply list your brick and mortar location and the existing trash programs.

• Step 22 - For your site plan, if you are comfortable drawing your own, please do so and upload, but if you’d like help, please reach out to us directly and we can draft something for you. We will need to know:

  • approximately how many chairs and tables of what variety (ex. 6 four-top tables and 6 two-top tables).

  • a list of any items including planters (how many), barriers, lighting, outdoor host stands, etc.

  • your plans for storing outdoor gear

• Step 23 - Insurance - you will need to contact your insurance company and request a certificate of insurance covering your businesses use of the street. Listed as additional insured should be the City of Providence, Westlo Management, LLC and your landlord (entity from your lease).

• Step 28 - The City requires that you additionally add your event to their event listings here.

Pheeewf….you made it! Now you just wait to hear if you’ll be asked to attend a virtual City Service Meeting to discuss your application. If you are required to attend a meeting, myself or a member of the Cornish team will join you. Please share the invite with us.

3.) Outdoor Dining Application

(Don’t be fooled by the name, this is not the application for outdoor seating!)

This application is where you go to apply for the following:

• 15 minute parking designation for curb-side pick-up spaces

A complimentary kit provided by the Take It Outside initiative and the Steel Yard which could include

• Traffic Barriers

• Steel Panels

• Tents and Weights

• String Lights

• Extension Cords and Covers

• Safety Signage