Los Angeles County is taking steps toward making temporary outdoor dining ordinances more permanent in unincorporated county areas.

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to move forward with the motion, with amendments to advise cities across the county to take part in permanently allowing outdoor dining.

“Even when we lift some of our health protocols, I think many people will choose to ask to be seated outside, if that opportunity is available to them,” Supervisor Janice Hahn said. “There’s a lot about the pandemic I hope we leave behind, but outdoor dining is one of those things we should hold on to.”

Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell said that outdoor dining was key to helping restaurants stay open during the pandemic, which saw several regulations ban dining indoors.

“Ordering takeout, or dining outdoors… was how we showed love to our small businesses,” Supervisor Mitchell said on Tuesday. “Some were kept afloat by the creative thinking and rapid action stakeholders, program implementers, as well as policymakers.”

At least 2,800 L.A. County businesses took advantage of the outdoor programs which allowed them to set up seating in parking lots, sidewalks and sometimes streets.

Mitchell noted that there were too many restaurants, specifically in her district who may not have been aware of such programs and wants any permanent order to include outreach and awareness that outdoor dining is an option.

the county legal staff may now work on ordinances for outdoor dining which must be reported back to the board within the next six months.

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