Baltimore, MD (6/16/2022) - In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Baltimore City Department of Transportation (BCDOT) expanded its outdoor dining program in 2020 to include parklets.  The free outdoor dining parklet program was launched to promote social distancing and to provide hardship aid to the heavily impacted hospitality industry. 

Since the program's inception, BCDOT has observed widespread utilization of the outdoor dining parklets.  Acknowledging the popularity of this emergency program, and the ongoing local State of Emergency, the Department of Transportation will be extending the temporary permits related to outdoor dining parklets until December 31, 2022.   

Simultaneously, the Department of Transportation is actively drafting a formal expanded outdoor dining policy that will include parklets.  BCDOT currently anticipates releasing the revised outdoor dining permit policy for public comment in the summer of 2022 and intends for the new policy to go into effect on or around January 1, 2023.  The new policy will establish annual permits for outdoor dining and formalizes design standards along with safety improvements for pedestrians, diners and all road users. 

While the expanded outdoor dining policy is being developed, no new outdoor dining parklet applications will be issued until the updated policy goes into effect.  More details on the revised policy will become available once it is posted for public comment in the summer of 2022.  The revised Outdoor Dining Program will not fall under the new Community Led Placemaking Program.

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