Village Board Approves Outdoor Dining Rule Changes

Outdoor dining rules have just gotten a little bit clearer for Sussex business owners.

The Village Board gave unanimous approval Tuesday to change some of the rules regulating outdoor dining areas in order to encourage more of the practice.

The new ordinance eliminates a requirement of at least 4 feet of space for pedestrian traffic to walk next to the area. Restaurants must now leave only “adequate” room for pedestrian traffic.

The ordinance also allows businesses to simply lock down outdoor dining tables, rather than remove them.

The changes also do away with the requirement that all alcoholic beverages in outdoor dining areas be brought out by business staff, as long as the area is deemed the appropriate size and scale to prevent access to alcoholic beverages by minors.

Businesses will still need permits to run outdoor dining areas.

Businesses in the village that have outdoor dining include Starbucks, Su Casa II Mexican Grill and Culver’s. The owner of the proposed The Boneyard Pub & Grille at the former Seigo’s location has stated he will build an outdoor dining area if he’s allowed to open in Sussex.