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Purpose of the Program
The City of Bellingham’s Commercial Right-of-Way Use Program allows restaurants to use portions of the right-of-way, including on-street parking, for outdoor dining. Adopted by the City in 2019, the program allows businesses to use sidewalks and parking areas for vending, cafes, food trucks and streateries provided they pay an annual use fee and comply with accessibility, design and safety standards. The purpose of the program is to promote vibrant street life, prioritize pedestrian use, and support local businesses.
What is a streatery?
A streatery is an outdoor dining area that is an extension of a restaurant built in the public right-of-way, including within on-street parking areas. A parklet is a streatery that doesn’t provide service.
Getting a Permit
Before constructing a streatery, an applicant must obtain permits from the Public Works Department. The permitting process involves assessing traffic impacts, design guidelines, accessibility, and safety. For more information, please review the Commercial Right-of-Way Use Guide.
Fees
Operators are charged an annual fee to use public space for revenue generating purposes for more than 30 consecutive days. The 2025 fee is $4.57 per square foot plus 12.84% excise tax, which is approximately $929 per year per 180 square foot parallel parking stall. The fee will be adjusted annually based on the median land value for downtown.
How were fees determined?
Fees are based on Department of Revenue guidance, which states that uses of 30 or more continuous days are subject to leasehold excise tax assessed on the fair market value of the use. The fees are also consistent with community feedback that business owners should be paying a fair amount for the conversion of public parking to revenue-generating space
Safety and Design Requirements
Streateries must meet:
- ADA accessibility standards, open structure requirements, landscaping, and material recommendations.
- Safety measures that include proper spacing, accessibility, fire safety, visibility, and maintenance requirements.
