Chicago City Council voted to approve an ordinance last week, introduced by Mayor Brandon Johnson, that will make the city’s Expanded Outdoor Dining (EOD) program a permanent fixture. The ordinance creates legal means for restaurants and bars to continue operating on roadways adjacent or immediately in front of their establishments.
Mayor Johnson expressed his enthusiasm for the measure: “With this passage, outdoor dining is here to stay in Chicago! Allowing restaurants and bars to offer outdoor dining during warmer months not only supports their bottom lines but also provides something Chicagoans have come to expect and enjoy.”
The approved program establishes an Outdoor Dining Street Permit which allows licensed establishments expand operations from May 1 through October 31 each year.
