Streamlined city administration for a livelier urban experience - Streamlined administration for a vibrant urban living experience in city centers
City Centers of Rhineland-Palatinate Embrace Outdoor Dining with Streamlined Regulations
The city of Mainz is taking strides to attract vibrant city life by easing restrictions on outdoor dining. Economic and Public Order Commissioner Manuela Matz (CDU) emphasized the importance of gastronomic businesses and their outdoor areas for the attractiveness and vitality of the city center. From now on, a building permit for outdoor dining areas in Mainz will only be necessary if they exceed 50 square meters, or if canopies or podiums are installed. Previously, the threshold was 20 square meters. Additionally, building permits for areas larger than 50 square meters will now be valid for three years, with straightforward renewal processes in place.
Industry association Dehoga in Rhineland-Palatinate underscores the demand for outdoor spaces in response to the pandemic, as people seek more open spaces. A clear trend towards eating and drinking outdoors has emerged, with patrons preferring ample space and fewer crowds.
Other cities in Rhineland-Palatinate are also implementing changes. Kaiserslautern has loosened regulations by extending outdoor dining hours, allowing establishments to remain open until 11 pm on weekdays and midnight on weekends and holidays. No further changes have been proposed, and there have been no major complaints. Trier has extended opening hours for outdoor dining, with terraces staying open until midnight on weekdays and 1 am on weekends. The changes are being tested for a year.
In Trier, special use regulations have been revised following extensive consultation, allowing shops to place seating in front of doors and accommodating standing tables under certain conditions. No building permit is required for outdoor dining areas, but one is necessary if actual construction measures take place, such as installing awnings.
Ludwigshafen allows outdoor dining arrangements in the gastronomy sector without the need for a building permit, with special use fees being charged instead. During the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship, the city administration shortened closing times, permitting outdoor dining until 11:00 PM under certain conditions.
Koblenz does not currently plan to alter regulations for outdoor gastronomy, with establishments needing a special use permit for placing tables and chairs on public property. Monthly fees for outdoor seating range from 2.65 to 6.10 euros, with lower rates in the outskirts.
The approach to outdoor dining across Rhineland-Palatinate's city centers caters to evolving consumer preferences for unique dining experiences, seasonal and locally-sourced cuisine, and event and market integration. While specific citywide legislative updates are not detailed in the available sources, the overall trend is toward enhancing outdoor dining experiences, integrating them with local culture, and maintaining flexible, accessible, and safe public spaces.
- In response to the growing trend of outdoor dining due to the pandemic, Dehoga in Rhineland-Palatinate has highlighted the need for increased outdoor spaces, reflecting the public's preference for ample space and fewer crowds.
- City centers like Trier are revising their special use regulations, enabling shops to place seating in front of doors and allowing standing tables under specific conditions, thus catering to the desire for unique dining experiences.
- Ludwigshafen, on the other hand, has waived the need for a building permit for outdoor dining arrangements and instead charges special use fees, providing flexibility for establishments offering outdoor dining options.
- While Koblenz does not currently plan to alter regulations for outdoor gastronomy significantly, it does require a special use permit for placing tables and chairs on public property, ensuring the safe and manageable use of public spaces.
