Dearborn Businesses Can Get Permits For Public Property Use

DEARBORN, MI — The city of Dearborn has taken steps to accommodate businesses restricted by guidelines put in place due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The city announced more opportunities are available to Dearborn restaurants and businesses to expand their service areas, now that Dearborn has added public property, streets and alleys to the list of sites potentially accommodating customers outside.

“By including public property, the city is taking yet another step to clear the way for restaurants and businesses to welcome and serve as many customers as they can,” said Mayor Jack O’Reilly. “These outdoor expansions can help ensure they are doing so safely and within the required health guidelines.”

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The city had already made it easier for businesses to apply to add outdoor seating by using sidewalks and private property.

Indoor capacity restrictions caused by safety concerns relating to the coronavirus mean that restaurants have limited seating and businesses are required to decrease the number of customers who can come inside.

In response, O’Reilly, with support from the Dearborn City Council, has streamlined the application process and waived permitting fees for restaurants and businesses to use outdoor spaces to accommodate more customers. Zoning requirements also have been relaxed to allow for this enhancement, the city said.

The city said its goal is to approve permit applications in about 24 hours after receipt of all required information. Applications can be found here.

Although fees are waived, the city said businesses and restaurants must get a permit to proceed on private or public property.

Restaurants will be able to serve food outdoors, and can provide alcohol outdoors once permission is obtained from the state and proof is provided to the city.

The initiative is being spearheaded by the city's Economic and Community Development Department and the Property Maintenance and Development Services Department, and is endorsed by the Downtown Development Authorities, the Corridor Authorities, the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce, the American Arab Chamber of Commerce and Wayne County, the city said in a news release.

With outdoor seating, businesses are responsible for creating enough space for social distancing, and for providing regular sanitation, the city said. Approval can be revoked for noncompliance of any of the permit provisions. Complete rules and details are found on the permit applications.
The relaxation on permit requirements is set to end on Nov. 1 but may be revisited in the future based on its success.