For about five months each year, Utah weather favors outdoor dining, but Salt Lake City restaurateurs must pay annual fees so their customers can enjoy that option.
Salt Lake City charges annual fees for restaurants that use public sidewalks or other city-owned space for outdoor dining, with permanent installations subject to a formula tied to property values. Utah’s Division of Alcoholic Beverage Services also requires permits for alcohol sales in those temporary spaces.
The wild card in this mix comes from property values that fluctuate with the real estate market. In Utah, land values have shot up due to surging population (driving demand) and significant housing shortages (shrinking supply).
Stretched Thin
The Beerhive Pub at 128 S Main occupies space in a historic building that dates back to 1889. Owner Del Vance opened the bar and eatery in 2009. For years, the outdoor fee for his four tables resting on public space hovered around $600 to $700, he said…