Manhattan Beach Adds Public Outdoor Dining Areas To Aid Eateries

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — To bolster its restaurants' struggling business needs during the recent Los Angeles County ban on outdoor dining, the City of Manhattan Beach is now allowing the outdoor dining areas previously set up by restaurants for serving diners to become sitting areas where the public may take a "to go" food order and site and dine.

The city calls the action "an effort to balance public health concerns and a business community struggling to cope with the County Health Order COVID-19 restrictions..." Individuals "using these areas must still comply with all of the County’s revised protocols, including wearing a mask, social distancing and not gathering with anyone outside of your immediate household," according to a city news release.

“Our business community is struggling to survive the County’s latest restrictions and the City has a win-win solution to help, while safeguarding public health,” said Mayor Suzanne Hadley. “Additional public seating areas will strike this balance and repurpose public areas that temporarily can’t be used for outdoor dining because of the County’s restrictions.”

Due to the recently enacted outdoor dining ban, "restaurants are not permitted to serve customers indoors or outdoors, and are limited to takeout and delivery only," according to the news release.

The new public seating areas will have the following regulations

• No reservation of seating;
• Face coverings must be worn;
• Social distancing must be maintained;
• No smoking or vaping;
• Diners must throw away trash in receptacles;
• No alcohol;
• No disorderly conduct or noise; and
• No littering or sleeping overnight.

The new outdoor dining areas will be closed from 10 p.m.-7:30 a.m. and users of the areas should sanitize tables after use.