5Philadelphia Streetery License Guide October 2022
Streetery Program Goals
Emergency Access
For everyone’s safety, emergency
responders need easy access to
buildings. Fire ghters need access
to re hydrants and must be able
to deploy ladders up the sides of
buildings. EMTs and police need
access to building entry points. The
regulations ensure that streeteries
don’t block emergency responders
when every second counts.
Occupancy Standards
Streeteries add extra customer
seating but they don’t add extra
restrooms. The regulations keep a
building’s occupancy in mind so that
facilities aren’t overwhelmed and
customers can still wash their hands
and use restrooms comfortably.
Legal Compliance
The City of Philadelphia doesn’t
always get the nal say over
what happens on its streets. The
regulations bring streeteries into
greater compliance with PennDOT
and USDOT regulations.
Neighborliness
In the City of Brotherly Love and
Sisterly Aection, it’s our duty
to look out for our neighbors.
The regulations specify hours of
operation and cleanliness standards
for Streeteries to minimize
neighborhood disturbances.
ADA Compliance
All Philadelphians, regardless of
their mobility limitations, deserve
equal access to facilities. The
regulations bring streeteries into
compliance with the Americans with
Disabilities Act and ensures that
everyone can have a seat at the
dining table.
Trafc Safety
Streeteries should be safe for both
diners and drivers. The regulations
limit the placement of streeteries
so that they don’t creep into travel
lanes and interrupt driver sight
lines. They also include structural
standards to protect diners in the
case of a vehicle collision.
Thriving Restaurants
Streeteries boomed as an emergency
response to the COVID-19 pandemic
and gained swift popularity among
restaurant owners and customers
alike. The regulations make streeteries
a permanent enhancement
to Philadelphia’s resilient and
internationally renowned restaurant
scene.
Utility Access &
Maintenance
There is a lot of vital infrastructure
hidden under the pavement. In a city
as historic as Philadelphia, a lot of
that infrastructure needs scheduled
maintenance or emergency repair.
The regulations limit the placement
of streeteries so that they don’t
interfere with utilities.
Quality Design
City streets are for everyone so
streeteries should be properly
built and easy on the eyes. The
regulations bring streeteries up
to building code and provides
height limitations and transparency
requirements so that streeteries are
an active part of the street.