Outdoor Dining Application for Restaurants outside of the Center & Blue back square
In planning for an outdoor dining area, keep in mind that the total number of seats (all existing indoor seats, including all proposed outdoor dining seats) cannot exceed the number declared on your existing Food Service License application. If you would like to discuss your current seating allowance, please contact Chris Hansen, Assistant Director of the West Hartford Bloomfield Health District, at Christopher.Hansen@WestHartfordCT.gov or by phone at 860-561-7900.
Outdoor Dining Site Plan Application Process and Requirements
Required documents:
- Application form and fees
- A comprehensive operational narrative for use of the outdoor dining area. Please refer to the “Outdoor Dining Narrative Requirements” document found HERE. Ensure that your narrative touches on each required element.
- A comprehensive, professionally prepared plan depicting the outdoor dining area and all accessory elements including:
- Table & Chair arrangement. Please keep in mind ADA spacing requirements when considering the table and chair layout. All entrances and exits must be kept fully accessible.
- Outdoor dining area enclosure specifications (fencing, planters, barricades etc.). The enclosure must be sufficiently weighted or anchored such that it is not easily moved. A detail depicting how this is achieved must be provided on the plans.
- Trash receptacles (if applicable)
- Outdoor bus stations (if applicable)
- Site lighting (if applicable)
- Umbrella details (if applicable)
- Heater details, including propane tank storage information (if applicable)
Fees: The application fee will be $210.00 plus $ 50.00 per 1,000 square feet of new use (or fraction thereof).
Application Submittal Process
Once you have compiled all of the information listed above, please submit the application through the West Hartford CityView Permit Portal.
If you have not already done so, you must register as a Portal user. Once registered, select “Apply for a Planning Permit” and select Site Plan. Follow the prompts from there to input all relevant application information, upload the required plan documents and pay fees. At the time of application submittal, fee payment may be partial. Once the application is received and reviewed for completeness, the remaining fees will be made payable.
Site plan applications must be acted upon by the Town within 65 days, but can likely be done more quickly depending on the completeness of the plans provided at submittal.
For questions regarding any part of this process or requirements, please contact Senior Planner Brian Pudlik either by phone at 860-561-7553 or by email at brian.pudlik@westhartfordct.gov.