2026 Temporary Patio Allowance Application 

Overview and Guidelines

There is no formal Temporary Patio Program for 2026 in downtown Paris due to construction and traffic flowing through detour routes. If a business is looking to have any form of outdoor seating in downtown Paris, please contact Brandon Webb (brandon.webb@brant.ca) or Erica Grimes (Erica.Grimes@brant.ca) to inquire about alternative locations outside of the road allowance

• The Applicant must complete the application below.
• The following is required at the time of application:
• Completed application form;
• Diagram of proposed location and layout of the patio, the number of patrons planned to be seated on the patio, dimensions, parking areas (Patio Plan) with existing parking and loading spaces labeled and spaces to be temporarily removed identified. County of Brant staff may request additional information to be submitted if the proposal abuts a Residential Use or Zone;
• Valid Certificate of Insurance, if applicable (see complete requirements in Section 5). Please note that patios operating on private property are not required to submit a certificate of insurance unless asked to provide;
• Description or diagram of signage proposed accessory to the temporary patio subject to County of Brant Sign By-Law 121-08. Signage shall not impede pedestrian or vehicular circulation or movement.
• Proof of a liquor sales license and/or “By-The-Glass” license, if applicable
• Staff will review the application within ten (10) business days and return signed approval to Applicant or advise of any additional information
• Staff may inspect the location to ensure the patio is consistent with approved plan.

• This application will apply to any restaurant or manufacturer that hold a “By-The-Glass” establishment within the County of Brant.
• For non-licensed and licensed establishments without an existing patio, the number of persons occupying the temporary patio shall not exceed the posted occupancy of the main building.
• For non-licensed and licensed establishments that have an existing patio, the number of persons occupying the temporary and existing patios combined shall not exceed the posted occupancy of the main building.
• This application must be submitted for review prior to receiving County of Brant approval to be submitted to the iAGCO for the temporary patio identified in this application.
• Patios on private property are permitted to operate for a total of 8 months within a calendar year. These months do not have to be consecutive months.
• Patios on public property may operate from May 4, 2026 to October 12, 2026. All patios and equipment and furniture must be dismantled and removed by October 13, 2026 at 9:00am.
• The information provided will assist in determining the feasibility of approving this application as well as determining special requirements that may be neccessary.
• If the application is incomplete, or further information is required, staff will contact the Applicant using the contact information provided.
• Patios on public space may not make use of currently allocated accessible parking spaces.
• At the end of each business day, the establishment is required to clean the sidewalk in and around the outdoor patio area and remove debris to a covered refuse receptacle.
• County of Brant will have the right to maintain the municipal property and to carry out repairs or maintenance to the municipal property. Where possible, County will provide written notice five (5) days prior to entering.
• Smoking and/or vaping will not be allowed on any patios as per provincial regulations. Outdoor cooking or other food and drink preparation are not permitted on public property.
• All patios require a fire extinguisher sized appropriately in consultation with the fire department.
• The Applicant will be responsible for reimbursing the County for any costs incurred by the County in repairing damage to the municipal property caused by the patio.
• A legal/registered signing authority must provide their signature on this application indicating acceptance of any and all conditions of approval or provide a letter giving consent.
• In the event of any non-compliance with these conditions or County by-laws, the County has the right to enforce any of the conditions of approval, suspend the approval or remove the patio at the Applicant’s expense.
• The County reserves the right to amend the terms and conditions of an Applicant’s approval in its sole discretion at any time, including but not limited to, restricting hours of operation and the right to revoke the approval.
• The County of Brant is authorized to inspect all temporary patios and to require adjustments to the patio in order to ensure compliance with all municipal and provincial guidelines, by-laws and/or regulations. 
• The County of Brant will institute a cost recovery fee for the use of staff time and materials for temporary patio applications on municipal property. 
• Tents or other structures may require building permits and a fire safety plan.
• Portable heaters are permitted on private property but must meet applicable federal and provincial safety requirements, and must be operated according to manufacturer’s requirements. Placement of the heaters will be reviewed by Fire Department staff as part of the application. Portable heaters will not be permitted on public property.
• The Applicant is solely responsible for ensuring proper winter maintenance of the patio. Such maintenance includes, but is not limited to, the removal of ice and snow clearing.
• Patios cannot interfere with snow removal on public or private property.
• Please note total capacity of the existing premise and temporary patio cannot exceed the permitted occupancy.
• All Applicants are required to comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), and Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO) Regulations and must comply with the advice, Sections 4.32 Temporary Sales Events and Section 5 Parking and Loading of the County of Brant Comprehensive Zoning By-Law, recommendations and instructions of the Brant County Health Unit (BCHU) and other public health officials, including any advice, recommendations or instructions on physical distancing, cleaning or disinfecting.
• Under AGCO requirements, It is the responsibility of the applicant to submit approval letter to the iAGCO platform and complete the form to the satisfaction of the AGCO.
• No patio shall operate until given approval from the AGCO.
• Requirements laid out in Ontario Regulation 352/22 include;
  • The municipality has provided for licensees to apply for or otherwise obtain an approval of a temporary outdoor physical extension in the municipality.
  • The licensee is able to demonstrate sufficient control over the area to which the extension would apply.
  • There is no condition on the licence prohibiting a patio.
  • The capacity of the area to which the extension would apply allows for at least 1.11 square metres per person.

Section One: Applicant Information 

Section Two: Property Owners Information 
*Please submit if different from the applicant* 

Section Three: Patios on Public Property
*This would apply to those patios that would be encroaching on any County of Brant property

Requirements:

• Patio Size/Width: Patios must remain inside the width of the establishment’s property frontage. Any Applicant who proposes a patio beyond these limits must submit signed, written consent from adjacent property owners. 
• Patio Location: use of County of Brant property will be reviewed on a case by case basis. Any proposed use of sidewalks or other spaces should take into account accessibility requirements. Applicants are generally discouraged from using spaces that are within the County of Brant's road allowance (parking stalls, etc.).
• AODA compliant path of travel must be maintained.
• The County of Brant will implement a cost recovery fee for the use of staff time and materials for temporary patio applications on municipal property. 
• Equipment must be returned to the County in good working order at the end of the 2026 patio season. 

Provide a sketch or simple patio plan illustrating the patio layout with dimensions and materials to be used. Include the number of tables, number of umbrellas, number of exits, all infrastructure, path of travel and utilities. Please include impact to parking in the sketch. This can be submitted on a separate document with the application OR a photo of the sketch can be submitted by email with the application (MUST be legible). Please note per AODA Standards, two (2) exits are required. 

Section Four: Patios on private property 

Requirements:
Patio Size: For establishments with on-site parking, County staff will review as to an appropriate ratio to be utilized on a case by case

Provide a sketch or simple patio plan illustrating the patio layout with dimensions and materials to be used. Include the number of tables, number of umbrellas, number of exits, all infrastructure, path of travel and utilities. Please include impact to parking in the sketch. This can be submitted on a separate document with the application OR a photo of the sketch can be submitted by email with the application (MUST be legible). Please note per AODA Standards, two (2) exits are required. 

Section Five: Supporting Documents 

Insurance and Indemnification  

It is the sole responsibility of the Applicant to determine what coverage, if any, is necessary and advisable for its own protection or to fulfil its obligations, including any obligations under this application. Any such insurance shall be obtained and maintained at the sole expense of the Applicant. By signing this application the Applicant listed in this application has agreed to defend, indemnify and save harmless THE CORPORATION OF THE COUNTY OF BRANT, its elected officials, officers, employees and agents from and against any and all claims of any nature, actions, causes of action, losses, expenses, fines, costs (including legal costs), interest or damages of every nature and kind whatsoever, including but not limited to bodily injury, sickness, disease or death or to damage to or destruction of tangible property including loss of revenue or incurred expense resulting from, arising out of or allegedly attributable to the negligence, acts, errors, omissions, misfeasance, nonfeasance, fraud or willful misconduct of the Applicant, its directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors and subcontractors, or any of them, in connection with or in any way related to the delivery or performance of this event. This indemnity shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any insurance obtained by the Applicant and such obligations shall survive the conclusion of the temporary patio.

For Patios on municipal property or otherwise determined, a Valid Certificate of Insurance naming the “Applicant” listed in this application as the “named insured”, and evidencing liability insurance coverage for all activities listed in this application, issued by an insurer licensed to do business in Ontario, with limits of not less than:

$5,000,000.00 per occurrence; And naming “The Corporation of the County of Brant” as an additional insured with respect to any liability arising from this temporary patio, MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH THIS COMPLETED APPLICATION. The policy must

include a cross liability and severability of interest clause and be endorsed to provide 30 days notice of expiration, cancellation, revocation or material amendment. The Applicant must submit this application to their insurer when requesting the Certificate of Insurance to ensure that liability coverage is in effect for all proposed activities. The County of Brant reserves the right to request additional insurance based on information arrived at during the review of this application.