Outdoor Dining

What is outdoor dining?

Outdoor or alfresco dining is outdoor seating designed to be used by the general public for dining purposes on the street verge or in a public space.

Before a food outlet can provide outdoor dining on City-owned or managed land, it must seek approval from the City. The City assesses all applications for outdoor dining areas and considers the effect on amenity, function and character of an area.

Obtaining approval

There are two approvals required from the City before Outdoor Dining can be established:

1. Planning Approval issued under the Town Planning Scheme for a period of three years;
2. Health Approval issued under the Trading in Public Places Local Law 1999 which is reviewed and renewed annually;

The checklist below will help you with your application. It is important that you complete the items on this checklist and ensure all the requested information and relevant application fees are provided and paid at the time of submission. This will reduce the time it takes for the City to process the application and help avoid further delays.

You should familiarise yourself with the requirements of the following policy and local laws which are available below:

• Policy 7.5 – Alfresco Dining – Joondalup City Centre - outlines planning requirements for outdoor dining in the city centre.
• City of Joondalup Trading in Public Places Local Laws 1999 – Part 3 outlines Health and Environmental Services requirements for outdoor dining.

For further information please contact the City on 9400 4933.

Outdoor dining application checklist

1.  Plans to be submitted with your application.

A site plan to a scale of 1:200 indicating the following:

• The use of abutting tenancies and properties, the location of pedestrian and service access areas, and the location of any windows;
• Footpath and carriageway alignment and any on-street parking;
• The location of any street furniture or other structures e.g. – phone booths, power poles, street trees etc;

Plan/s to a scale of 1:50 indicating the following:

• Dimensions of proposed dining area and means of separation to the rest of the street or public place;
• Floor plan of the premises showing indoor seating area, food preparation areas, counters and the dimensions and locations of all entrances to the eating house;
• Dimensions and level/slope of adjacent footpath and proposed outdoor dining area;
• Location and nature of any parking or service bays, street furniture, drainage and utilities in the vicinity of the eating house and the alignment of the adjacent carriageway;
• Position and dimensions of all tables, chairs and associated furniture and fixtures proposed; and 
• Position of any landscaping, bollards or other objects proposed to be used or displayed in the area;

2.  Details to be submitted with your application.

• Completed and signed outdoor dining application form and copy of your current development approval for the alfresco dining;
• If there is no current development approval, a completed Application for Approval to Commence Development Form - MRS Form 1 (PDF) and Application Fee must be submitted to Planning first.   Health assessment and approval cannot be issued without a current development application approval;
• Payment of the Outdoor Dining application fee - currently $255.00;
• Copy of public liability insurance (minimum of $10 million) showing that it includes the outdoor dining area. Public Liability Insurance must be maintained throughout the duration of the licence period;
• Management plan outlining the operations of the outdoor dining area detailing:
  • delivery of food and dining accessories
  • proposed date and time of operation, and any advertising that will be used
  • arrangements for serving any alcohol
  • location where chairs and tables will be stored when not in use
  • daily cleaning arrangements and disposal of foodstuffs and rubbish
• Indicate the number of tables and chairs within the existing premise;
• Confirm the number of tables and chairs proposed within the outdoor dining area;
• Indicate the number of toilets, hand-basins and urinals that are available to patrons;
• Estimate of the total area (square metres) of the outdoor area. If more than one area is used, show measurements for each area separately, then show the total;
• Provide detail on the types of chairs and tables that will be used with particular reference to their nature and weight. What measures will be taken to ensure tables and chairs could not be wind affected? Detail the method by which any tables may be fixed to the ground;

Application fees

For further information on current application fees for Outdoor Dining, please contact the City on 9400 4933.  

Renewal Applications

Each year a full renewal application must be submitted. Payment for the annual licence fee is currently $255 and is processed when approval has been given.