Vancouver city councillors have thrown their support behind extending patio hours.

Council unanimously approved a motion from Mayor Gregor Robertson today (July 29), directing staff to identify both short-term actions and longer-term policy changes for expanding patio space and hours.

“We’ve had an enormous amount of support voiced over the last couple of weeks, since this was raised,” Robertson said in council chambers. “We did increase the hours of operation during the Olympics, and that was very well-received as well.”

Vancouver residents could soon see some establishments with a “good track record” identified by staff for test cases, according to Vision Vancouver councillor Heather Deal.

“We will be speaking with people in neighbourhoods to ensure that we’ve got the right fit for the right neighbourhood, and we’ll be looking at who our best operators are now, for those who can test run it for us,” she said. 

“We know that we do have quite a few vendors interested—people with great records and good locations that may well work for pilots over the summer.”

Robertson said some of the longer-term changes may also require work with the provincial government, including changing the types of patios that are permitted.

“As they modernize their liquor laws there may be a real opportunity to get all on the same page and get into the 21st century with how we embrace patios here in Vancouver, similar to how great they are in many other cities around the world,” he said.

Deal said any potential pilot cases this summer would be at establishments that haven’t received complaints and are deemed to be in “low-risk” areas. She noted a consultation process will take place before any longer-term policy changes are made.

City staff will issue a memo on any pilot projects between now and when council reconvenes in September.

Under Vancouver bylaws, the hours of operation for large patios are from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Robertson’s motion called for staff to work with industry stakeholders and business improvement associations to identify near-term actions that are “revenue neutral” to increase patio hours and space for establishments with a good track record.

It also called on staff to report to council with recommendations for other policy changes that improve the patio experience, including relaxing fencing restrictions and improving the efficiency of the permit process.