The District’s popular outdoor dining “streateries” program is set for major changes as the temporary program expires on Nov. 30, 2025. Restaurants citywide must act quickly to stay in compliance with the new permanent rules, according to the District Department of Transportation (DDOT).
Key deadlines for businesses:
Nov. 1: Deadline to request debris removal for noncompliant streateries. Restaurants can email streateries@dc.gov to schedule pickup with DPW. DDOT will provide instructions for safely deconstructing materials.
Nov. 30: All temporary streatery permits expire. Food establishments must obtain a Streatery Design Permit from DDOT to bring their structures into compliance. Any noncompliant structures left in public space after this date risk enforcement.
Ongoing: DDOT hosts virtual office hours every Monday to help businesses understand and meet the new design requirements. Businesses can register via email with their name, business, and address.
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Restaurants must now obtain:
A new design permit
Permits for electricity or barriers
Compliance with safety and accessibility standards
In Adams Morgan, which currently has 33 streateries, only three plan to continue under the new rules. In Georgetown, just 10 of 67 streateries would meet the updated requirements. Restaurants must also comply with safety and accessibility standards and pay a public space fee, roughly $20 per square foot, depending on location.
Kristen Barden, Executive Director of the Adams Morgan Partnership BID, said the program’s changes come with significant costs.
“Because of the expense of staffing them, Initiative 82, and some of those increased labor costs, increased costs of goods, it’s just been very expensive to staff them,” Barden said.
Billy Martin of Martin’s Tavern highlighted the benefits streateries bring to the neighborhood.
“It’s the lifeblood of our business. A big factor, quite frankly, is that pedestrian and vehicular incidents are down close to 80% because we have these streateries,” Martin said.
DDOT encourages all participating businesses to provide feedback on their experience with the temporary program to help improve the permanent Streatery Program. Restaurants can share their input here. With only weeks to meet new requirements, restaurant owners across the District are facing tough decisions on whether to upgrade their outdoor spaces or remove them entirely.