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B26-0517 • 2025

Streatery Program Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

Streatery Program Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

Housing
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Allen
Last action
2026-03-20
Official status
Official Law
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Temporary Changes to Streatery Program

This act temporarily changes the fees for participating in the Streatery Program and sets rules for granting exceptions.

What This Bill Does

  • Reduces the annual public space rental fee for a streatery permit to no more than $15 per square foot.
  • Sets January 15, 2026, as the start date for enforcing non-compliance with Streatery Guidelines or applicable rules.
  • Declares that it is the District's policy to promote streateries because they create a vibrant dining scene and support local businesses.
  • Allows the Public Space Committee to grant waivers of certain program requirements if such waiver would not create an undue risk.
  • Requires streatery permit holders who received exceptions to apply for a renewal through the Public Space Committee every two years.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Businesses that participate in the Streatery Program
  • The Department of Transportation and the Public Space Committee

Terms To Know

Streatery
An outdoor dining area set up on a public street.
Public Space Rental Fee
The fee charged for using public space, such as sidewalks or streets, for business purposes.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This act is temporary and will expire after 225 days of taking effect.
  • It does not specify the exact amount of fees before the reduction to $15 per square foot.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-20 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Law L26-0097, Effective from Mar 06, 2026 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 004483, Expires on Oct 17, 2026

  2. 2026-01-22 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Congress

  3. 2026-01-16 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Act A26-0241 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 000443

  4. 2026-01-13 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Returned from Mayor

  5. 2026-01-12 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0241

  6. 2025-12-29 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Jan 13, 2026

  7. 2025-12-16 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  8. 2025-12-12 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Notice of Intent to Act on B26-0517 Published in the District of Columbia Register

  9. 2025-12-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  10. 2025-12-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  11. 2025-12-01 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0517 Introduced by Councilmember Allen at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Streatery Program Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT
D.C.ACT 26-244
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
JANUARY 12, 2026
Toamend,onatemporarybasis,theDepartmentofTransportationEstablishmentActof2002toreducethefeesforparticipatingintheStreateryProgram,toestablishastartdateforenforcementoftheStreateryGuidelinesorapplicablerules,todeclaretheDistrict’spolicyofpromotingstreateries,toauthorizethePublicSpaceCommitteetograntwaiversofcertainprogramrequirements,ifsuchwaiverwouldnotcreateanunduerisk,andtorequireastreaterypermitholderthatreceivedanexceptiontoapplyforastreaterypermitrenewalthroughthePublicSpaceCommitteeevery2years;andtoamendtheBicycle
andPedestrianSafetyAmendmentActof2016torequirethatoneoftheroadwaysselectedtobeadesignatedcorridorshallincludethe2000-2400blocksof18thStreet,NW, inWard 1.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
actmay be citedas the“StreateryProgram Temporary Amendment Act of 2025”.
Sec.2.TheDepartmentofTransportationEstablishmentActof2002,effectiveMay21,2002 (D.C. Law 14-137;D.C. OfficialCode § 50-921.01 etseq.),isamended by adding a new
section9vtoreadasfollows:“Sec.9v.Streateryprogram.
“(a)(1)Theannualpublicspacerentalfeeforastreaterypermitshallbeassessedatnomorethan$15persquarefoot.
““(2)DistrictagenciesshallbeginenforcementactivitiesrelatingtononcompliancewiththeStreateryGuidelinesorapplicablerulesnosoonerthanJanuary15,2026.“(b)(1)Itisthe policyof the Districtto promote streateries,as streateriesare a beneficial
useofpublicspacethatcreateamorevibrantdiningsceneandsupportlocalbusinesses.“(2)Infurtheranceofthepolicydescribedinparagraph(1)ofthissubsection,thePublicSpaceCommitteemaywaivethefollowingprogramrequirements;provided,thatthewaiverwouldnotcreateanunduerisktopedestriansorotherroadwayusers:“(A)Theminimumrequireddistancebetweenstreateriesandcurbcuts,driveways,alleys,andtrees;
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
“(B)Theprohibitiononstreateryenclosuresorverticalsupportstructures
thatexceed42 inchesinheight;and
“(C)Themaximumseatingcapacityofastreatery.
(3)A streaterypermitholderthatreceivesanexceptionunderparagraph(2)of
thissubsectionshallapplyfora streaterypermitrenewalthroughthePublicSpace Committee
every2years.”.
Sec.3.Section202oftheBicycleandPedestrianSafetyAmendmentActof2016,effectiveMarch21,2025(D.C.Law25-312;D.C.OfficialCode§50-2372),isamendedasfollows:
(a)Subsection(b)isamendedbyaddinganewparagraph(4)toreadasfollows:“(4)Oneoftheroadwaysselectedpursuanttothissubsectionshallincludethe2000-2400blocksof18thStreet,NW,inWard1.”.(b)Subsection(c)isamendedbyaddinganewparagraph(7A)toreadasfollows:“(7A)Recommendationsonthedesignationanddesignofcurbsidespaceforuse
asstreateries,parklets,orotherpublicspaceactivations:”.
Sec.4,Fiscalimpactstatement.
The Counciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementof theBudget Directoras thefiscalimpact
statementrequiredby section4aof theGeneralLegislativeProceduresAct of 1975,approved
October 16,2006 (120 Stat.2038; D.C. OfficialCode § 1-301.47a).
Sec.5.Effectivedate.(a)ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetoby
theMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto)anda30-dayperiodofcongressional

ENROLLED ORIGINAL.
reviewasprovidedinsection602(c)(1)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approved
December24,1973(87Stat.813;D.C.OfficialCode§1-206.02(c)(1)).
sactshallexpireafter225daysofitshavingtakeneffect.

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Councilofthe Districtof Columbia

Districtof Columbia
APPROVED
JANUARY 12, 2026

DocketNo.826-0517
COUNCILOF THEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004

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