Danville Could Make Downtown Restaurant Parklets Permanent

DANVILLE, CA — The Danville Town Council will discuss whether to make downtown restaurant parklets permanent at Tuesday morning study session. Current rules allowing restaurants to operate on-street parklets and expanded outdoor seating areas on private property are set to expire Jan. 2, 2027, according to a city staff report.

A proposal developed following a June council study session would allow restaurants to continue operating parklets in public spaces permanently, provided they obtain the necessary permits, sign a lease with the town, and pay an annual fee. Danville currently has five parklets occupying 12 on-street parking spaces in Old Town. The proposal would cap the program at those 12 spaces, meaning a new parklet could only be added if an existing one is removed.

The town would continue to charge $2,244 per year for a parklet occupying one parking space, or $187 a month. Restaurants would also pay an annual administrative fee, and parklets would be inspected once a year to determine whether they are in the required “like new” condition. Restaurants with outdoor seating exceeding 25% of their gross interior area would either have to reduce the seating area, or pay the town’s parking in-lieu fee. Staff propose reducing that fee by 50% for qualifying full-service restaurants.

Changes to the parklet program will require amendments to Danville’s Downtown Business District Ordinance, and approval by the planning commission and town council.

See here for more information, and here for Tuesday's full agenda.