San Diego-Beginning Monday, San Diego city officials began cracking down on outdoor dining facilities.

Compliance inspections and enforcement actions will begin on August 2, targeting companies that currently do not have temporary outdoor operating permits issued by the city and operate on public access rights. These permits provide businesses with the opportunity to provide services outdoors, a relic of the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing restaurants and other institutions to operate with limited indoor capacity.

“They want to tear down the roof, and honestly, I think it’s a bad idea because we already have a terrace,” said Andrea Carbonaro, general manager of the Little Italy Farmer’s Table. “We did it and invested a lot of money on the terrace.”

For companies that hold appropriate licenses but have non-compliant structures and other violations, law enforcement will begin after Labor Day.

During the inspection, the city government staff will check whether there are violations. They include:

• Unlicensed structures and decks in the right of way (including streets) that have not been designed, reviewed, and inspected in accordance with state and local requirements;
• Platforms built on the streets, walls and roofs were added;
• Railings higher than 45 inches;
• Liquid propane gas heaters in tents and buildings;
• Fire extinguishers not installed in tents and buildings;
• An extension line that crosses the sidewalk;
• Unlicensed tents of 400 square feet and above;
• Tents or awnings that have been used for more than six months in one year;
• The materials used for the tent do not meet the standards of the national fire chief; and
• Poor drainage hinders the natural flow of water to urban storm drains.

In Little Italy, some of the most exquisite outdoor areas are located in places such as farmers’ tables. The restaurant’s management continues to rely on the availability of its outdoor space, especially during the ever-changing pandemic.

“With the current mutation of the virus, we don’t know whether the government will decide to shut down the interior again,” Stefano Billdteri said.

It can be seen that a restaurant in Little Italy has begun to demolish part of its structure, but most people in the area seem to be waiting and said that they have signed a petition requesting that the roof be kept on its structure.

The city’s outdoor dining time has been extended to July next year.