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Patio Licences

Patio Licences are required for all individuals, partnerships or corporations who are proposing to place a patio on city-owned property or where a business is applying for a temporary patio on private property. 

The City has now opened applications for Temporary Patio Licence Applications for the 2025 patio season. Applications for patios on City-owned lands will closed on May 30, 2025.

Extensions for temporary private patios

Effective January 1, 2023, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) Registrar no longer accepts applications or has the authority to approve temporary outdoor extensions (temporary patios) for licensees located in municipalities.

Licensees holding a valid Liquor Sales Licence from the AGCO can apply for a temporary outdoor extension as part of the Temporary Patio Licence Application.

Applicants must notify the AGCO of the approval, the duration of the approval, and any conditions on the approval.

Please contact the City Clerk’s Office for more information regarding Temporary Patio Extensions of Liquor Licensed Premises. Email clerks@peterborough.ca or by phone at 705-742-7777 ext. 1820#.

Outdoor patios on City-owned lands

In February 2023, City Council approved an annual Outdoor Patio Program through report IPSPL23-004. Individuals, partnerships or corporations, located within the Central Area, with a valid municipal business licence where food and drinks are served can apply for an outdoor patio license.

To ensure compliance with the patio permits and limit the City’s risk related to non-permitted patios operating on city-owned lands, the City has implemented an Administrative Monetary Penalty System that would create an enforcement process for businesses that are not in compliance with their permit or have not obtained a permit.

For general inquiries relating to outdoor patios on city-owned lands please contact Nicole Huculiak, Urban Design Supervisor at nhuculiak@peterborough.ca or phone at 705-742-7777 ext. 1654#.

Important dates and deadlines

Applications for patios on City-owned lands will closed on May 30, 2025.

  1. Submit an online patio license application form. The application shall including the following:
    1. Completed Application Form: Applicant shall verify that the name provided on the application is a legal business entity as per the Ontario Business Registry. An active municipal business licence is required prior to a patio permit being issued. 
    2. Site Plan: a scaled plan which illustrates the proposed patio location. Must include a sketch and photos of the proposed delineators (i.e. fences or planters) to be used. Fencing shall be approved by the City and should generally be dark in colour, ideally black and made of metal or other high-quality material. Please contact the City for additional guidelines relating to fencing and other delineators.
    3. Patio License Application Fee:  payment of the fee can be made online or via cheque made payable to the Corporation of the City of Peterborough submitted to City Hall Attn: Planning Division, Patio Permit Fee. Please note this is a non-refundable fee for review and processing of the application. If the permit application is denied, the fee is not subject to a refund. 
    4. Certificate of Insurance: must be signed and stamped by the insurer and comply with the requirements as outlined on the license application. A copy of an insurance policy document will not be accepted.
    5. Letter of Permission (if applicable): If you have the agreement of the neighbouring property owner or tenant to extend the patio area in front of your neighbour’s establishment, then you can apply for an extended sidewalk patio permit. You will require a written letter of consent from the adjacent property owner or tenant that is satisfactory to the City that acknowledges they are providing consent for the term of the permit. Note that consent can be revoked by the adjacent property owner or tenant at any time. Additional information may be requested by the City.
    6. Municipal Business Licence - Applicants are required to have an active Municipal Business Licence in order to obtain a patio permit. All applications will be subject to inspections for any building, zoning, health and fire regulations that pertain to the specific type of business. Please note this is not the Provincial registration licence, this is for a municipal licence to operate in the City of Peterborough.
    7. Fire Inspections – The Licence Holder shall provide proof of Annual fire protection systems reports and semi-annual kitchen system report. Failure to do so may result in this permit being revoked.
  2. Approval Timelines - City staff will review and respond within 20 business days of the application being received. If the application is incomplete the response will outline any additional requirements to complete the license application process. If the application is approved a license agreement will be sent to the owner for their e-signature. A signed copy of the agreement will need to be returned to City Hall in person or electronically. Once the agreement is executed a copy of the agreement will be sent to the applicant with confirmation of an anticipated installation date.
  3. Installation - For approved patios located within the travelled portion of the road or in the on-street parking area the City’s Public Works department will install the City-owned fencing and vehicular barriers. For any approved patios located on the City-owned sidewalk, it will be the responsibility of the business owner to install the required delineators (i.e. fences) as approved through the license agreement. 
  4. Notice of Removal – It is anticipated that removal will take place between September 30th through to October 25th. The City will aim to provide the Licence Holder with a minimum of 7 days notice that the patios will need to be removed by the Licence Holder. The timing of the City’s notice will be weather dependent. 

Insurance requirements

Before taking possession of the Licenced Area, and throughout the Licence Term, the Licence Holder will (1) obtain the insurance coverage which a prudent licensee, operating a similar business, would maintain; and (2) without limiting the general nature of the previous requirement, provide to the City a certificate of insurance confirming that the Licence Holder maintains at least the following Commercial General Liability insurance, subject to limits of not less than $2,000,000 inclusive per occurrence. To achieve the desired limit, umbrella or excess liability insurance may be used. The coverage shall include, but not be limited to:  Bodily injury including death;  Damage to property including loss of use thereof;  Premises and operations liability;  Products and completed operations liability;  Blanket contractual liability;  Cross liability or severability of interest clause;  Contingent employer’s liability;  Personal injury liability;  Contain a waiver of any subrogation rights which the Licence Holder’s insurers may have against the City;  Contain no materially restrictive language against the activities contemplated under this Licence;  Name the “Corporation of the City of Peterborough” as Additional Insured, but only with respect to liability arising out of the operations of the named insured; and  A clause stating that the Suppliers insurance policy will be considered as the primary insurance and shall not call into contribution any other insurance that may be available to the City.  If the Licence Holder’s operations involve the sale/consumption and/or service of alcohol Host Liquor Liability with a limit no less than $2,000,000.   Afford 30 days notice of cancellation to the City.  Be issued by underwriters licensed to transact business in Ontario.    The licencee agrees to provide any addition form of insurance and with whatever higher limits the City, acting reasonably, requires. If the insurance policy is scheduled to renew during the Licence Term the Licence Holder is responsible for providing a renewal certificate of insurance within seven (7) days of expiry.

Additional documents

If you have previously obtained a patio permit and require a copy of the site plan on file please email planning@peterborough.ca or phone 705-742-7777. 

If you require a paper copy of the temporary patio application, please contact City Hall.

Temporary patio application

Council approved changes in 2025 regarding insurance requirements

In February 2025, Council approved maintaining the current insurance requirements for Downtown Patio Program participants at $2 million Commercial General Liability, except for patios that are licensed to serve alcohol, which would be required to have $5 million Commercial General Liability. The approved increase to the insurance requirement for licensed businesses reflects the increased level of risk to the City when there is alcohol being served on city-owned lands. More information relating to this change is outlined in Report IPGPL25-004.

Potential disruptions due to planned construction

Please be advised that there may be delays in issuing permits as a result of conflicts with planned construction works in the Central Area. Micro surfacing (pavement) works are planned to start this spring for Hunter Street West. Staff will work with the selected contractor to ensure minimal impact to businesses and the patio program, specifically those located in the Hunter Street West café district, between George Street North and Aylmer Street North. It is anticipated that lane closures in the café district, which have been implemented in recent years to facilitate the patio program and an expanded pedestrian realm, will not be installed until the road works are completed. The projected completion for the café district micro surfacing works is early June, weather dependent. Staff are committed to working with affected businesses to ensure that patios can be permitted and installed once the proposed construction works are completed.

Contact Us

City Hall
500 George St. N.
Peterborough, ON
K9H 3R9

Phone: 705-742-7777
Toll Free: 1-855-738-3755
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