Temporary patio program

On July 8, 2020, the City of Mississauga implemented temporary use zoning by-laws that allow temporary outdoor patios to be set up by restaurants, convenience restaurants, and take-out restaurants.

If your restaurant establishment has a valid business license, you can expand your outdoor seating and dining area.

You need a permit to install a temporary patio on a public right-of-way (which includes municipal roads, sidewalks, curb lanes/on-street parking lanes), or on a municipal parking lot.

Permits will not be granted for temporary patios on municipal roads with posted speed limits over 50 kilometres per hour.

There is no fee for a new application.

All temporary patios on the municipal right-of-way are subject to enforcement.

Patio construction

If you require any construction for your temporary patio, such as building a wood platform, you must enter an encroachment agreement. For more information, email realtyservices@mississauga.ca or call 905-615-3200 extension 5428.

Any platform that is higher than two feet above the average grade will also require a building permit.

How to apply

Application checklist

Your application package must include these four documents:

  1. A completed Temporary Patio Permit Application form
  2. A completed Certificate of Insurance – Standard Liability form
    • The Owner/Occupancy must maintain a commercial general liability policy that includes host liquor liability (if applicable) of at least $5 million as well as property insurance coverage in amounts required to adequately cover the owner’s property, equipment and other such property in the care, custody and control of the City
    • The policy shall contain a waiver of rights of subrogation against the City and will ensure the City is added as an additional insured party under said policies to insure the City to the same extent as the Owner/Occupant
    • The Owner/Occupant shall deliver to the City, an executed City of Mississauga certificate of insurance. The form must be completed by your insurance company and include an original stamp and signature.
    • The liability insurance coverage must extend for the entire duration of the application period (for example, date of application to December 31, 2023). The completed insurance form can be scanned and submitted to the City by email as part of the application submission package.
  3. A completed Temporary Outdoor Patio – Serving Alcohol Application form if you have a valid Liquor Sales licence (approved by AGCO) and you intend to extend your existing liquor licences to sell or serve alcohol on your proposed temporary outdoor patio
  4. A signed Acknowledgement and Authorization form
    • If the Applicant does not own the property that will benefit from the temporary patio, the Applicant must enclose an affidavit signed by the registered property owner attesting to the fact that the applicant is authorized to represent the property owner
  5. A sketch of the temporary patio encroachment, including:
    • The property address and the appropriate dimensions as described in the General Business Requirements, Safety Requirements and Additional Safety Requirements
    • The distance from the edges of the proposed patio to the nearest above-ground obstruction such as, the curb line, fire hydrants, street lighting, traffic signal and other utility poles, sign posts, parking meters, trees, bus stop, etc.
    • The distance from the edge of the patio to the property line of adjacent tenant spaces
    • If proposed, location of heating device(s) and distance from any tent(s) and surrounding structures/buildings. You are to specify type and number of heating device(s); and specify location of fire extinguisher(s).
    • If proposed, sketch of the location of tent(s) including measurements

Application process

  1. Review the Guidelines for Temporary Patios in the Public Right of Way:
    • General Business Requirements
    • Safety Requirements
    • Additional Safety Requirements based on the nature of your proposal
    • Specific Requirements for Temporary Tents/Covered Areas
    • Specific Requirements for Heating Devices
  2. Complete the required documents listed in the application package checklist:
  3. Email your completed application package to temporarypatio@mississauga.ca. Incomplete or inaccurate applications will not be processed.

Temporary patios shall only be permitted for restaurants and bars in possession of a valid 2022 or 2023 business operating license.

Once your application has been reviewed and approved by the City, you can install your temporary patio starting on the effective date listed on your permit. If there are impacts to sidewalk access and the City has to install traffic safety barriers or ramps, the permit will go into effect only after these measures have been installed.

Restaurants that intend to extend their existing establishment’s liquor licences to serve alcoholic beverages on a Municipally Approved Temporary Outdoor Patio must notify the AGCO of the Municipality’s Approval before selling or serving alcohol on the temporary outdoor patio.

Fees

Fees are waived for temporary patio permits.

Inspections and occupancy

    • Peel Public Health officials are authorized to inspect all temporary patios and require adjustments to the patio in order to address compliance with public health and safety standards with regards to restaurant operations
    • The City may conduct audit inspections of patios to ensure compliance with the outlined general safety requirements and permit terms and conditions

All temporary outdoor patios on private lands must comply with the regulations of the Zoning by-law. These include:

  1. Patios not permitted on required landscaped areas or landscaped buffers
  2. Patios must maintain a setback of 6.0 metres (19.7 feet) from residential zones
  3. Patios may occupy up to 50% of required parking spaces but not accessible parking spaces
  4. Patios may not obstruct a driveway or parking aisle
  5. Patios must maintain a 1.0 metres separation distance from accessible parking spaces

All temporary patios are subject to enforcement.

It is advisable for all restaurants to obtain permission from the property owner or manager prior to installing the patio, and to ensure that the patio does not obstruct fire routes.

For information regarding specifications for Temporary Tents please see the Temporary Outdoor Retail Sales and Display Requirements document.

Approvals for temporary outdoor patios (serving alcohol)

You need Municipal Approval for a temporary outdoor patio on Private lands if you have a valid Liquor Sales licence (approved by AGCO), and you intend to extend your existing liquor licences to sell or serve alcohol on your proposed temporary outdoor patio. More information about the application process is available below.

Temporary outdoor patios (not serving alcohol)

No permit is required for temporary outdoor patios located entirely on private property.

How to apply

To apply for approval of your temporary outdoor patio that will serve alcohol, please submit a completed Temporary Outdoor Patio – Serving Alcohol Application Form to temporarypatio@mississauga.ca. Incomplete or inaccurate applications will not be processed.

Restaurants that intend to extend their existing establishment’s liquor licences to serve alcoholic beverages on a Municipally Approved Temporary Outdoor Patio must notify the AGCO of the Municipality’s Approval before selling or serving alcohol on the temporary outdoor patio.

Establishments that do not have an authorized liquor sales license and do not serve alcohol are not required to notify the AGCO regarding temporary outdoor patios.

Fees

There is no fee for applications.

Contact us

If you need more information or have questions about temporary patio permits, email temporarypatio@mississauga.ca.