The City of Thunder Bay is assisting restaurants and retailers with creative ways to establish outdoor patios during the pandemic and is waiving all related municipal fees, waiving certain zoning enforcement and expediting the process. All temporary patios must comply with the public health and safety directions, including any COVID-19 related public health requirements and all applicable Provincial Orders. 

City Staff are available to help and can be reached at 625-2527.

Please Note: This temporary patio process is currently in effect for the 2021 patio season only, ending October 15, 2021. 

Applications

Interested parties are invited to submit one of the following:

Temporary patios located on private land:

• Private Parking Lot Registration Form

Temporary patios located on city land:

• Application for Pop-up Patios (With Structure)  
  
• Application for Pop-up Patios (Without Structure)
• Application for Sidewalk Patios 

To apply to loan City patio equipment, submit the application below:

• Application to Request Loan of City Equipment  

Street closure proposals

Business Improvement Area and Business Association organizations are invited to submit street closure proposals by contacting Realty Services at lisa.zawadzki@thunderbay.ca or 807-625-2527.

Sample drawings

• Pop up Patio Size and Location Sketch (in on-street parking lane)
• Pop up Patio (No Structure) Sample Layout (in on-street parking lane)
• Pop up Patio (No Structure) Accessible Ramp Down From Curb Detail
• Pop up Patio (With Structure) Sample Layout
• Pop up Patio (With Structure) Framing/Structural Detail
• Pop up Patio (With Structure) Rail Detail/Example

Additional resources

• ACGO Guidelines for outdoor patios during COVID-19
• Ontario Guidelines for restaurant and food services health and safety during COVID-19

• Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017

• City of Thunder Bay Noise By-Law 131-2005

• Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005