San Diego makes outdoor business spaces a permanent program

The San Diego City Council adopted Spaces as Places, converting temporary pandemic-era outdoor business operations into a permanent city program.

The framework established design and permit rules for using sidewalks, parking lanes and selected streets. It sought to preserve added seating and street activity while addressing access, safety and neighborhood compatibility.

What began as an emergency response became a long-term change in how San Diego allocates curb and sidewalk space. Restaurants gained another operating format, and communities gained a new point of debate over the public realm.