Parking places make way for terraces this summer
Brussels Region allows terraces on parking places until the end of 2022
Brussels Region allows terraces on parking places until the end of 2022
"When the situation allows it, many Brusselers will again enjoy our great bars and restaurants. Because there is no place better than a terrace and because we want to encourage people to meet outdoors this summer, we authorise the conversion of parking places to terraces until the end of 2022. We provide clear and simple rules that are the same for everyone. In this way, many terraces will appear in Brussels this summer. Our bars and restaurants are going through difficult times and this way we are providing more perspective,” says Pascal Smet, State Secretary for Urbanism.
In particular, flexible, modular, multifunctional and movable terraces will not require a planning permit, as long as they provide a free passage of at least 1.50 m. Terrace furniture can be stored outside if it is placed together and secured.
Often, pavements do not have enough space for a terrace, while bars and restaurants can already host fewer people indoors due to the crisis, which also makes them less profitable. The aim is to support the sector reopening and to stimulate the relaunch of the economy by offering more Brusselers the possibility to enjoy a drink on a terrace together.
By simplifying, harmonising and limiting the regulations, the Brussels Government wants to offer as many bars and restaurants as possible the opportunity to install a terrace. Concretely, this can be done by converting parking places into a terrace. A planning permit will no longer be required for this, but there will be some rules to follow. For example, they must be seasonal, which means they have to be used between 1 April and 31 October and/or during the holiday season. They must also be taken down once a year and their floor can only occupy the existing parking places. In order to avoid a height difference with the sidewalk, the floor height must be limited. In addition, any partition cannot be higher than 80 cm and the terrace must be entirely open at the sidewalk side. The surface cannot exceed 50 m² and, finally, it must be easy to dismantle the terrace for works.
If these conditions are met, the terrace can be installed until December 2022.
These conditions do not apply to protected sites, but a planning permit can be obtained for these sites.
The catering licence, delivered by the municipalities, is still required. This also counts for the regional permit, issued by Brussels Mobility, for the use of a regional road.
These conditions do not apply to protected sites, but a planning permit can be obtained for these sites.
The catering licence, delivered by the municipalities, is still required. This also counts for the regional permit, issued by Brussels Mobility, for the use of a regional road.
Currently, some terraces do not have the correct authorisations. The Brussels Government underlines that a prior planning permit is required for the terraces that do not meet the conditions of the decree.
More info: https://urban.brussels/en/news/vade-mecum-richtlijnen-horecaterras-in-de-openbare-ruimte-2021-2022