December 30, 2025
Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Survey Finds Support for Streamlined Permitting Process and Minimal Fees for Outdoor Dining

Survey results reveal positive feedback for outdoor dining setups amid municipal ordinance changes

Last week we asked readers for their feedback on outdoor dining setups that many restaurants shifted to during the pandemic. We conducted this survey amid a backdrop of municipalities – including Santa Monica and LA – passing and proposing ordinances that require new permit applications and fees for restaurants hoping to maintain their outdoor dining.

Here are the results. 

The first question we asked was “Have you enjoyed the expanded outdoor dining options that many restaurants shifted to during the pandemic? In total, we collected 405 responses with 91 percent answering “Yes”. 

Next, we asked, “Do you think expanded outdoor dining should be a permanent option?” While an overwhelming number of 408 respondents answered “Yes”, it was not by quite the same margin, accounting for 87 percent of the responses. 

Finally we asked ‘Do you think elected officials should remove barriers – such as streamlining the permitting process and keeping fees minimal – to help keep restaurants operating these outdoor dining areas?” The results to this were similar, with 85 percent answering “Yes”. 
To learn more about the topic, check out this article we ran last week https://smmirror.com/2023/03/californias-ab-1217-could-supersede-costly-outdoor-dining-permits-proposed-by-municipalities/

Previous Article

Eight Santa Monica Police Activities League Youth Complete The Los Angeles Marathon

Next Article

New Neapolitan Pizza Concept, Bar Monette, to Open in Santa Monica on April 7

You might be interested in …

One Dead Following Possible Fatal Overdose at Palisades Park

One person dead, another hospitalized following possible overdose Tuesday evening By Sam Catanzaro Santa Monica police are investigating a drug overdose at Palisades Park that left one person dead and another hospitalized.  According to the […]

Santa Monica High School's Joslyn Hayes (left) and Jordan Levy (right) block Culver City Centaurs outside hitter Taylor Selfridge's attempted kill to put the Vikings up 11-6 in the first set home on Oct. 5.

Westside Volleyball Teams To Begin CIF Playoffs:

Westside girls volleyball teams Santa Monica High School (10-2), Pacifica Christian (13-1), St. Monica (9-4), New Roads (9-8), Archer (13-3), and Windward (12-4) have all qualified for the CIF Southern Section playoffs. Santa Monica High […]