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Guelph’s Seasonal Patio Program

Applications for the 2026 Seasonal Patio Program are open between February 1 and April 1, 2026. If you already have an active encroachment agreement with the City for your seasonal patio, please submit a renewal form. If you are applying for program for the first time, please submit a new application form.

About the program

The City of Guelph’s Seasonal Patio Program is an opportunity for businesses to activate public outdoor space, including public roadways, for commercial purposes from the months of May to September each year.

For commercial patios installed exclusively on the City sidewalk space, please refer to the City’s encroachment process and encroachment by-law.

If you operated a seasonal patio in 2025, you will need to submit a renewal application between February 1, 2026 and April 1, 2026.

If you did not operate a seasonal patio in 2025, you will need to submit a new application between February 1, 2026 and April 1, 2026.

Key Dates

  • February 1 – Applications open
  • April 1 – Applications close
  • April 15 – Applicable fees must be paid in full
  • First weekend of May – Patio installation
  • Last weekend of September – Patio teardown

Program fees

The on-street rental fee, normally charged at $10 per square meter per month, has been reduced to $5 per square meter per month as part of the Downtown Infrastructure Renewal Program. This reduction is confirmed only for 2026 and 2027 and encroachment agreements will continue to reflect the original fee.

For new applications to the Seasonal Patio Program, the following fees will apply in 2026:

  • One-time Application Fee: $181 + HST, charged once during the application period
  • One-time Agreement Fee: $243 + HST, charged once at the start of the 10-year encroachment period
  • Annual Seasonal Patio Inspection Fee (if applicable) $260 + HST
  • Annual On-Street Rental Fee: $5 per square meter, per month + HST

For renewal applications to the Seasonal Patio Program, the following fees will apply in 2026:

  • Annual Seasonal Patio Inspection Fee (if applicable) $260 + HST
  • Annual On-Street Rental Fee: $5 per square meter, per month + HST

Application Information

Please review the below information carefully to ensure your application meets the requirements for the Seasonal Patio Program and to ensure timely approvals.

Guidelines

Please ensure that you have read through and understand Guelph’s Seasonal Patio Program Guidelines in their entirety and ensure you have all required documentation and materials to make a successful application.

The guidelines are meant to be used as a resource for informational purposes only and it is the responsibility of businesses and patio operators to ensure compliance with any and all mandatory regulations, by-laws and third-party requirements (page 5) each and every year. These guidelines and any related Seasonal Patio Program requirements are subject to change without notice.

Cover of Guelph's Seasonal Patio Program Guidelines
Guelph’s Seasonal Patio Program Guidelines

Pre-Approved Patio Designs

The following pre-approved patio drawings may be used for your application. Please ensure accurate measurements and placement of street furnishings (such as light posts, flower beds, and bus stops) are added to the drawing you use.

The pre-approved drawings are specific to the type of the street your business is on. Please ensure you check the On-Street Patio Permission Map to select the right drawing for your patio or email [email protected] with your business address for direction.

The pre-approved designs are available for businesses to submit along with their application and must be built to the exact specifications of the drawings if approved. Any deviation from these designs may require a new drawing or building permit. Any changes to the layout of an existing patio with a signed encroachment agreement may require a new application.

New application documentation

  • One of the pre-approved patio drawings or a detailed patio drawing that has met all requirements.
  • A copy of your current Business License.
  • A copy of your current liquor license (if applicable).
  • Waste Storage and set-out drawings.
  • A certificate of insurance for $2,000,000 in liability with “The Corporation of the City of Guelph” listed as co-insured.
Submit Application

Renewal application documentation

  • A copy of your current Business License.
  • A copy of your current liquor license (if applicable).
  • A certificate of insurance for $2,000,000 in liability with “The Corporation of the City” of Guelph listed as co-insured for the year in which you are renewing your application.
Submit Application

Patios on Private Property

Applications for private property, whether temporary or permanent, must go through the liquor licensing and/or building permit processes. Applications must comply with the City of Guelph’s Zoning By-law and the Ontario Building Code.

For businesses with a liquor license already in effect on privately owned property looking to extend to a temporary patio, please fill out the Temporary Patio on Private Property form below. Forms are to be submitted to [email protected].

Once complete, please follow the regular liquor licensing and building permit process. Please expect 30 business days for processing.

For questions related to building permits, please contact [email protected]

For questions related to the zoning by-law please contact [email protected].

Temporary Patio on Private Property form

For more information

Please reach out to the Patios team through Economic Development and Tourism for questions on the program.
[email protected]

Frequently asked questions

Which businesses qualify? Is it only restaurants?

Public property patio applications are open to all business types. Patio design and aesthetic must meet the Seasonal Patio Program guidelines.

For private property patios, please use the liquor licensing and/or building permit processes. All patios on private property must comply with the City’s current Zoning By-law.

Can I install my patio as soon as I submit my plans?

No, patio operators must receive an approved application by the City indicating when your patio can be installed.

How long is the application process?

The application process is dependent on receiving all required information and documentation on a timely basis, with notice of approved patios coming no later than April 15 if all requirements have been met.  Approval of seasonal patio applications are on a first-come, first-served basis and are dependent on the quality of submissions.

Once approved for your patio, you will receive a ten year encroachment agreement. You will not be required to apply every year while that encroachment agreement is active.

What is a pre-approved patio design?

Businesses planning to use public property for their patios have the option to use a pre-approved patio design to help speed up the application process. Although pre-approved, the drawings must be updated with measurements and any street furnishings that are relevant to your business and patio.

What level of accessibility does my patio need to meet?

Operators must follow rules laid out in the Seasonal Patio Program Guidelines and ensure their patios are accessible to all. These rules include accessible walkways, ramps when a curb is present, and other accessibility features. Patios on public land must be compliant with the Ontario Building Code and the Facility Accessibility Design Manual. Further information is available through the Seasonal Patio Program Guidelines.

I don’t know where to start with my patio application. Who can I contact?

Please reach out to us at [email protected].

When can I begin operating my patio?

All patios must be approved through the application process with a fully executed encroachment agreement prior to beginning to operate. For patios in the public right of way, water barriers must be in place around the patio and filled before it can be used.