As Washington, D.C., businesses adapt to new regulations governing outdoor dining spaces, many local restaurant owners express concern over increased costs and bureaucratic hurdles that are altering the landscape for streateries established during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) instituted a permanent streatery program in late 2025 after the expiration of the temporary COVID-era initiative at the end of November. Under the previous program, restaurants were able to use public spaces such as alleys and parking lanes for outdoor dining without paying fees. The new permanent regulations require businesses to pay $15 annually per square foot for the use of public space and mandate the installation of three-foot-tall concrete barriers separating streateries from traffic.

Eight business owners who operated pandemic-era streateries described the new rules as costly and cumbersome, with two deciding against applying for permanent permits due to financial impracticality. As of late July, 43 of 78 businesses with active permanent permit applications had received approval from DDOT, with 20 having rebuilt their streateries. All temporary streateries were required to be removed by March 31.

DDOT began enforcing the deadline in June, issuing cease-and-desist orders to at least 18 businesses still operating temporary structures, giving them two weeks to dismantle the streateries. Wonderland Ballroom in Columbia Heights, for instance, complied with the order by July 15. DDOT has emphasized that it conducted extensive outreach and maintained weekly office hours to assist business owners during the transition.

Business owners recount a lengthy, complex approval process that requires coordination among multiple agencies, including DDOT, the Department of Buildings, the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration, local arborists, and historic preservation offices. Tara Smith, owner of Mount Pleasant’s Martha Dear pizzeria, described the application as nearly a full-time job and noted nearly seven months elapsed before her permit was approved. Several owners and local planners highlighted delays and administrative challenges, with some questioning whether the program's design intentionally discourages participation.

The financial burden extends beyond permit fees, with costs for concrete barriers, architectural services, and contractors adding up significantly. Jo-Jo Valenzuela, co-owner of Tiki bar in Adams Morgan, reported a 60 percent revenue decline after removing their streatery, requiring cuts to employee shifts. Similarly, Purple Patch, a restaurant that previously seated up to 96 patrons outdoors—a space contributing up to half the establishment’s revenue—has been limited to a 22-seat streatery under the new rules. Owner Joanne Cleary warned that workforce reductions affecting nearly 40 percent of staff could be necessary.

Opposition to streateries centers on parking availability. Some business owners argue that the loss of on-street parking discourages customers, particularly in dense neighborhoods where the cost or inconvenience of parking deters quick visits. Bill Duggan, owner of Madam’s Organ in Adams Morgan, cited parking shortages as a factor impacting customer traffic and neighboring businesses, such as Revo Nails and Pollo Sabroso, which experienced diminished visibility due to adjacent streateries.

Local elected officials have weighed in on the issue. Janeese Lewis George, Ward 4 Council member and mayoral candidate, has pledged to restore and streamline outdoor dining programs, promising a centralized permitting process to reduce bureaucratic complexity. Aparna Raj, the Democratic nominee for Ward 1 Council, expressed similar goals to enhance interagency coordination and simplify applications.

Following a closing event for Purple Patch’s original streatery, DDOT unexpectedly approved the restaurant’s permanent permit days later, requiring nearly $7,000 in fees but excluding substantial additional expenses. Reconstruction of the new streatery began immediately, though reduced seating means the establishment may still face staff layoffs.

Despite efforts to maintain outdoor dining, many business owners say the new program’s costs and procedural demands threaten the viability of streateries that once provided vital economic support during the pandemic. As the city navigates this transition, stakeholders continue to debate the balance between public space use, business sustainability, and neighborhood accessibility.