To provide streamlined, efficient responses to evolving business needs during necessary pandemic restrictions, the City of London established a Back to Busines (B2B) Action Team and intake portal. B2B comprises a cross-functional team serving as a “one-window” point of contact for businesses to be as responsive as possible.
Back to Business (B2B) Initiatives
Sidewalk sales
There is a new streamlined process for applying to host sidewalk sales on City property.
If you are a business wishing to display and sell merchandise from a stand on City sidewalk or boulevard fronting your store, simply:
- Complete the Application Form
- Have your insurance company complete the Certificate of Insurance – Standard
- Provide photos and a drawing indicating the size of the stand and location in relation to the building , curb, light standards, boulevard trees, garbage bins, and any other street furniture
Submit the complete package outlined in steps 1 – 3 to businesshub@london.ca. The Service London Business Hub Team will then provide you a Licensing Agreement to be signed and returned back. There are no fees involved.
Sidewalk Sale FAQs
What is a sidewalk sale?
A sidewalk sale is considered to be the display and sale of merchandise from a stand on the City sidewalk or boulevard fronting your store.
What can I sell?
You can only sell merchandise that is sold within the store.
Where can’t it go?
- The stand can be located in front of the building where the merchandise is sold;
- The stand cannot block any entrances or exits of your building or the neighbour’s property;
- There must be at least a 1.5m (5ft) clear way for pedestrian travel;
- The stand must be placed a minimum of 0.6m (2ft) from the curb; and
- The stand must not interfere with vehicular on-street parking.
What is the cost?
There is no fee.
Is there anything else I should note?
Following registration, the sidewalk stand can be placed on public property when the business is open. The information above is provided as a summary and does not replace the regulations found in Streets By-law S-1.
Expanded patios
Council has also approved a Zoning amendment to permanently allow expanded seasonal patios on private property, city-wide. A staff report was submitted to City Council’s Planning Committee Council seeking these permanent changes, which we encourage patio operators to review. The report includes technical regulations in its Appendix, such as:
- Establishes seasonal outdoor patios as a permitted use associated with a restaurant or tavern;
- Seasonal outdoor patios are only permitted between March 15 and November 15, and all structures/fixtures are to be removed outside that time (not including any approved permanent patio space);
- The capacity limit is 50% of the interior capacity or 50 people, whichever is greater;
- Seasonal outdoor patios are to be setback at least 6 metres from any residential-only zone;
- Seasonal outdoor patios will not require additional parking spaces and can be located within existing required commercial parking spaces, and;
- No seasonal outdoor patios will be permitted within required residential parking spaces.
To help you navigate patio regulations as they pertain to your specific situation, please contact us and let us know what your plans are for the 2021 season. Additional actions may be required for you to maintain and operate patios safely and in compliance with the updated bylaw, and the B2B team can work closely with you to ensure the right steps and guidelines are being implemented.
Park and pick-up locations
To help support businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City has added more than a dozen new short-term parking spots throughout the downtown.
These “park and pick-up” spots will provide clearly identifiable locations for customers and food delivery drivers when they are making quick food and parcel pickups. New signage is being installed at locations that were identified through requests from businesses, keeping in mind both safety and convenience.
About Back to Business (B2B)
Back to Business brings together city staff from permitting, bylaw enforcement, parking, roads and transportation, business relations, planning, and the Clerk’s office, among others, with a goal of expediting requests so that businesses can get back to serving their customers safely.
Since its launch on June 9, The City of London’s B2B team has assisted with requests for space allowance for curbside pick-up and sidewalk customer queues, as well as temporary measures using public space for expanded outdoor patios and merchandise displays.
If you have any questions, please email businesshub@london.ca