City of Edmonds Introduces Fee for Outside “Streateries”

(Edmonds, WA) -- The Edmonds City Council is moving forward with a controversial new rule requiring restaurants to pay 4,000 dollars to continue using makeshift outdoor dining areas. City Council implemented the fee Monday after three councilmembers boycotted a meeting that was called to consider cutting it in half.

Restaurants in town began using makeshift outdoor dining structures last year in order to comply with social distancing rules during the pandemic.

The council voted 4-3 last Thursday to require so-called "streateries" to pay the fee in order to continue using the public right-of-way for outdoor dining through April 30th.