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BillENACTED

Bill 260073

Amending Section 9-208 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Sidewalk Cafés,” and Section A-301.1.5 of Title 4, Subcode “A” (“The Philadelphia Administrative Code”) of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Zoning and Use Registration Permits,” by removing expired provisions related to outdoor entertainment at sidewalk cafés, under certain terms and conditions.

Introduced Feb 5, 2026Committee on RulesOfficial record: City of Philadelphia via Legistar

Introduced by

How members voted

From the floor

Passages in the official transcripts that cite this file number. Every quote links to its exact place in the record.

  1. The ayes are 14. The nays are 0. Majority of all members having voted in affirmative the bill passes. Chief Clerk, please read the title of Bill No. 260073.

    Council President Johnson · Stated Meeting, March 19, 2026 · Mar 19, 2026 · official transcript, this passage

  2. The Committee on Rules to which were referred the following bills: Bill No. 260055, an ordinance amending Title 14 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled Zoning and Planning, by revising and clarifying certain provisions and making technical changes to text that has expired, all under certain terms and conditions. And Bill No. 260073, an ordinance amending Section 9-208 of the Philadelphia Code entitled Sidewalk Cafes an…

    Chief Clerk · Stated Meeting, March 12, 2026 · Mar 12, 2026 · official transcript, this passage

Status timeline

  1. Feb 5, 2026Introduced and Referred · CITY COUNCIL
  2. Mar 10, 2026HEARING NOTICES SENT · Committee on Rules
  3. Mar 10, 2026HEARING HELD · Committee on Rules
  4. Mar 10, 2026REPORTED FAVORABLY, RULE SUSPENSION REQUESTED · Committee on Rules
  5. Mar 12, 2026SUSPEND THE RULES OF THE COUNCIL · CITY COUNCIL
  6. Mar 12, 2026ORDERED PLACED ON THIS DAY`S FIRST READING CALENDAR · CITY COUNCIL
  7. Mar 12, 2026READ AND ORDERED PLACED ON NEXT WEEK'S SECOND READING CALENDAR · CITY COUNCIL
  8. Mar 19, 2026READ AND PASSED · CITY COUNCIL
  9. Mar 30, 2026SIGNED · MAYOR

Official documents

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..Title Amending Section 9-208 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Sidewalk Caf�s," and Section A-301.1.5 of Title 4, Subcode "A" ("The Philadelphia Administrative Code") of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Zoning and Use Registration Permits," by removing expired provisions related to outdoor entertainment at sidewalk caf�s, under certain terms and conditions. ..Body THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS: SECTION 1. Section 9-208 of The Philadelphia Code is amended to read as follows: TITLE 9. REGULATION OF BUSINESSES, TRADES AND PROFESSIONS * * * CHAPTER 9-200. COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES ON STREETS * * * � 9-208. Sidewalk Caf�s. (1) Definitions. * * * [(e) Outdoor Entertainment. Entertainment, including but not limited to, music, television, and performances that are provided by a business with a sidewalk caf� permit, streetery, temporary street closure, or temporary lot closure for their patrons outside. Outdoor Entertainment shall exclude adult cabarets.] * * * (4) License Applications. * * * [(d) A recipient of a Sidewalk Caf� permit, or a recipient of a streetery permit or temporary street closure permit, pursuant to regulations, shall be eligible to provide Outdoor Entertainment until December 31, 2021, so long as all other provisions of the Philadelphia Code are adhered to, including the following: (.1) This provision shall apply retroactively to any applicant that had prior approval for a sidewalk caf� permit, streetery-street closure, or temporary lot closure. (.2) Permittees must notify the City, through the streetery@phila.gov email address, that an Outdoor Entertainment performance is scheduled seventy-two (72) hours in advance of the Outdoor Entertainment performance taking place. The Streets Department may, by regulation, extend the notification requirement for significant geographic areas of the City when there is a determination that a longer notification period is necessary to ensure that the health and public safety of this significant geographic area of the City is sufficiently considered and addressed. In this notification, permittees must certify that: (.a) they have read, understand, and will comply with the City's COVID safety guidelines relating to entertainment, dining, and leisure, and; (.b) they will comply with any regulations promulgated by the City pursuant to this legislation. (.3) Performers must wear a face mask at all times during an Outdoor Entertainment performance unless: (.a) all performers stand more than twenty (20) feet from members of the public; or (.b) performers perform behind a plexiglass barrier that will sufficiently prevent respiratory droplets from travelling from any performer to a member of the public. (.4) All equipment must be removed at the conclusion of each Outdoor Entertainment performance. (.5) A permittee that receives more than one violation notice for failure to maintain an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant pedestrian path, shall be prohibited from providing Outdoor Entertainment. (.6) There shall be no more than two (2) Outdoor Entertainment performances per City block, at any given time. (.7) Until June 15, 2021, Outdoor Entertainment performances shall require a footway closure permit from the Streets Department, issued at the discretion of the Streets Commissioner. (.8) After June 15, 2021, Outdoor Entertainment performances shall no longer require a footway closure permit from the Streets Department, however, the City reserves the right to deny the right to conduct Outdoor Entertainment performances on the basis of right-of- way conflicts, public safety concerns, history of violations, or history of complaints. Such denials will be provided in writing with the cause identified. (.9) The Streets Department may, by regulation, restrict the hours that Outdoor Entertainment performances may occur for significant geographic areas of the City when there is a determination that shorter Outdoor Entertainment performance hours are necessary to ensure that the health and public safety of this significant geographic area of the City is sufficiently considered and addressed.] * * * SECTION 2. Subcode "A" (The Philadelphia Administrative Code) of Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code is amended to read as follows: SUBCODE "A" (THE PHILADELPHIA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE) * * * CHAPTER 3 PERMITS * * * SECTION A-301 APPLICATION FOR PERMIT * * * A-301.2 Permits not required: * * * A-301.2.5 Zoning and use registration permits: A zoning or use registration permit shall not be required for the following activities: * * * 4. Temporary uses, structures and signs for special events of a limited time period, typically open to the public and of a non-commercial nature, as approved by the Code Official after consideration of the impact on the immediate area. [(a) A recipient of the above-mentioned temporary uses permit, pursuant to regulations, shall be eligible to provide Outdoor Entertainment until December 31, 2021, so long as all other provisions of the Philadelphia Code are adhered to, including the following: (.1) This provision shall apply retroactively to any applicant that had prior approval for a temporary use permit. (.2) Permittees must notify the City, through the streetery@phila.gov email address, that an Outdoor Entertainment performance is scheduled seventy-two (72) hours in advance of the Outdoor Entertainment performance taking place. The Streets Department may, by regulation, extend the notification requirement for significant geographic areas of the City when there is a determination that a longer notification period is necessary to ensure that the health and public safety of this significant geographic area of the City is sufficiently considered and addressed. In this notification, permittees must certify that: (.a) they have read, understand, and will comply with the City's COVID safety guidelines relating to entertainment, dining, and leisure, and; (.b) they will comply with any regulations promulgated by the City pursuant to this legislation. (.3) Performers must wear a face mask at all times during an Outdoor Entertainment performance unless: (.a) all performers stand more than twenty (20) feet from members of the public; or (.b) performers perform behind a plexiglass barrier that will sufficiently prevent respiratory droplets from travelling from any performer to a member of the public. (.4) All equipment must be removed at the conclusion of each Outdoor Entertainment performance. (.5) A permittee that receives more than one violation notice for failure to maintain an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant pedestrian path, shall be prohibited from providing Outdoor Entertainment. (.6) There shall be no more than two (2) Outdoor Entertainment performances per City block, at any given time. (.7) The Streets Department may, by regulation, restrict the hours that Outdoor Entertainment performances may occur for significant geographic areas of the City when there is a determination that shorter Outdoor Entertainment performance hours are necessary to ensure that the health and public safety of this significant geographic area of the City is sufficiently considered and addressed.] * * * ___________________________________ Explanation: [Brackets] indicate matter deleted. Italics indicate new matter added. ..End