Outdoor Dining Permit - Public Right-of-Way

Step 1.Prepare Application Form

View List of Application Questions(PDF, 100KB)

Applicant must choose under “Restaurant Type” either “Full Service Outdoor Seating” or “Fast Food Outdoor Seating” (sewer rates vary) charged different sewer rates with fast food being the lower rate.

On the application form, include BOTH the legal entity name of the business and the name of the contact person, along with their email and phone number

Step 2.Prepare Exhibits A-C

Go to Exhibits tab for detailed instructions

Step 3.Submit Application Form and Exhibits A-C

Begin and Submit Application Form

Exhibits may be attached to online application form or submitted independently

Submit exhibits independently to Engineering Division of the Public Works Department

Email: engineering@culvercity.org

Step 4.Pay Application Fee

Other significant fees will be charged

View Fees tab for schedule of all fees with detailed information and cost examples

All fees will be invoiced

Step 1.Exhibit A - Site Plan

Create a Site Plan of your proposed outdoor dining installation

View a Site Plan example(PDF, 114KB)

Requirements

• All plan pages should be labeled "Exhibit A"
• Plan document should be sized 11” x 17”
• Completed plan document must be converted to pdf
• Plan requirements

• Plan document must include a north arrow, street names, business address, and business name
• Plan must include a signature block
• Plan should be an accurate, dimensioned, using legibly-sized font
• Plan should list the total square footage (not including the entry way area)
• Plan drawing must show:
  • Applicant business storefront with property lines
  • Storefronts adjacent to the business
  • Adjacent streets
  • Full sidewalk
  • Trees, fire hydrants, electrical boxes, sign poles, and other permanent installations
  • Current street parking spots
  • All proposed furniture and equipment, clearly labeled

Step 2.Exhibit B - Barrier Detail and/or Front View

Provide a map/sketch of any physical barriers that will be installed, or if no barrier, then show a front view of the venue showing table locations

View a barrier map/sketch example(PDF, 99KB)

Requirements

• All pages should be labeled "Exhibit B"
• Copies and images must be converted to pdf and should be combined when possible
• Pdfs should be sized 11” x 17” or 8.5” x 11”

Step 3.Exhibit C - Furniture and Equipment Inventory 

Provide an inventory list of all furniture and equipment to be installed in exterior space.

Include copies of manufacturers’ cut sheets and/or color photographs of all furniture and equipment to be used in area

View a manufacturers’ cut sheet example(PDF, 125KB)

Requirements

• All pages should be labeled "Exhibit C"
• Copies and images must be converted to pdf and should be combined when possible
• Pdfs should be sized 11” x 17” or 8.5” x 11”

Step 1.Application Processing Fee

$750.00 - one-time fee

Due at time of application, charged immediately upon the submission of the permit application

Must be paid before application will be reviewed

Will not be refunded if permit application is denied

Step 2.Maintenance Deposit

$500.00 - one-time deposit

Due at the time of permit issuance

May be refunded when outdoor dining area is vacated if City does not need to restore, repair, or clean the site

Step 3.Sewer Fee

$ varies - one-time fee - amount is significant

Due at the time of permit issuance

Fee charged when a formally vacant site is developed

Calculated by number of dining seat square footage ($606.50/seat for restaurant full service type dining)

Sewer rates vary depending on restaurant type of service: Full Service Outdoor Seating or Fast Food Outdoor Seating (lower rate)

Combined fees for Culver City and City of Los Angeles

Culver City portion = $338.50/seat
Los Angeles portion = $268.00/seat

Cost Example: 30 seats would equal a sewer fee of $18,195.78 (30 X $606.50)

Step 4.Rental Fee

$ varies - ongoing annual fee

Due at the time of permit issuance and then annually thereafter

First year fee will be prorated and then due in full annually thereafter

Calculated by square footage ($13.00/sq ft)

Rental fee will be invoiced annually and can be paid annually, bi-annually, or monthly (processing fees apply to monthly billing)

Cost Example: 200 sq ft outdoor dining area = $2,600.00 (200 X $13.00)

Step 5.Technical Surcharge

$82.00 - one-time fee

Due at time of application, charged immediately upon the submission of the permit application

Total Cost Example

Year 1 Total: $22,127.78 for 200/sq ft are and 30 dining seats:

• Application Fee $750.00
• Maintenance Deposit $500.00 (potentially refunded at end of permit)
• Sewer Fee $18,195.78
• Rental Fee $2,600.00 (paid annually)
• Application and Technical Surcharge $82.00

Step 1.Certificate of Insurance

Provide a Certificate of Insurance for the applicant business.

Overview: Businesses are required to provide evidence of:

• Workers compensation coverage as required by State law; and
• Comprehensive general liability coverage with minimum $2,000,000 per occurrence and minimum $2,000,000 aggregate; and
• Named additional insured: "The City of Culver City, members if its City Council, boards and commissions, officers, agents, and its employees." 

Review the full list of insurance requirements for outdoor dining permits.

View an example of an acceptable Certificate of Insurance(PDF, 306KB).

All insurance requirements are subject to change at the discretion of Culver City. Before proceeding, confirm current requirements with City staff.

Step 2.Culver City Business License

Provide or obtain an active Culver City Business License.

Learn more about obtaining a Culver City Business License.

Step 3.Outdoor Dining Permit & License Agreement

Execute an Agreement with the City.

An Outdoor Dining Permit & License Agreement will be provided by City after your Application is approved.

View Outdoor Dining Permit & License Agreement Terms & Conditions(PDF, 114KB)

Step 4.Safety & Other Additional Requirements

Additional measures, either for safety or other considerations, may be required of an applicant, depending on case-by-case circumstances.  

Culver City must balance the needs of competing uses of the public right-of-way and consider the safety of everyone in the vicinity. For example, businesses must comply with American Disability Act (ADA) requirements, including a minimum 48” unobstructed path of travel on public sidewalks and into and out of dining areas for wheelchair access, however, more space may be required depending on pedestrian traffic. The City must also consider emergency, trash, and utility access, as well as many other safety issues.

Examples of other safety issues to be considered by Public Works:

• Existing sloped sidewalk surface available
• Sidewalk drainage
• Available lighting
• Necessity, cost, impact, and feasibility of installing k-rail versus water-filled barriers
• Safety impacts of added proposed enhancements, such as planters and shade protection
• Adequate fire clearance - access for emergency personnel and equipment
• Trash and utility services access
• Impacts on contiguous allocations of street areas
• Area traffic patterns, turn lanes, sight lines, bike access, pedestrian flow, and other mobility issues

The City will consider numerous other factors when reviewing a permit for approval based on case-by-case circumstances

Examples of factors to be considered by the City that might require mitigation or could result in the denial of permit:

• Impacts on local parking supply
• Reported or anticipated impacts on surrounding residents and businesses
• Applicant's prior and ongoing conformance with this or other City permits
• Applicant's other entitlements
• Applicants prior and ongoing conformance with all laws and regulations, including all health and safety guidelines, adopted by Culver City and the County of Los Angeles