City of Sydney seeks to convert about 150 temporary on-street dining areas into permanent footpath extensions

# What the proposal is

The council plans to replace temporary barriers with permanent footpath infrastructure, construct extensions starting in early 2027, and carry out the program progressively over the next eight years.

# What would change for businesses

The proposal includes measures intended to make outdoor dining easier and more certain for hospitality operators:

• Streamlined approval process with fewer notifications and no duplicate applications.
• Reduction of specific rules, such as prohibitions on standing without a table and extra requirements tied to food, toilets, and heaters.
• Greater flexibility to place planter boxes and large pots in dining areas.
• Where possible, five-year approvals for new permanent footpath extensions to provide business certainty.

# Access, safety and traffic considerations

The council will retain requirements to provide a clear path of travel on footpaths for pedestrians and people with disability. The intention is to allow dining on both sides of that clear path where space permits, including against a building and the kerb.

Existing processes for assessing parking and traffic impacts will remain in place. Compliance practices will favor communication and education for operators until February 1, 2027, except where immediate enforcement is required for public safety.

# Community feedback and uptake so far

# Timeline and funding

If council endorses the new guidelines they will take effect on Thursday 1 October. Construction of permanent footpath extensions is expected to begin in early 2027 and continue progressively across the city over eight years. The City of Sydney has allocated up to $20 million in its long-term financial plan for the program.

# Practical implications for stakeholders

For restaurants and cafés: expect simpler and faster approvals, more flexible use of outdoor space, and potential five-year certainty for extensions where provided.

For pedestrians and disability advocates: the council states a continued commitment to a reliable clear path of travel and retention of accessibility measures.

For residents concerned about parking and noise: parking and traffic impacts will continue to be assessed under current processes, and noise was raised in community feedback as a consideration the council must manage.

# Bottom line

Sydney's proposal moves temporary on-street dining installations toward permanent infrastructure, paired with streamlined approvals and longer-term permissions. The council balances business certainty with retained access and traffic assessments, and it plans phased construction beginning in 2027 with program funding in the long-term plan.