B26-0517 • 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

The official text states the law expires after 225 days from its effective date, which aligns with the candidate's claim of about seven months.

Streatery Program Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

This law temporarily lowers fees for outdoor dining permits, sets rules for enforcement and waivers, adds a specific street to safety corridor plans, and expires after about seven months.

What This Bill Does

Limits the annual rental fee for streatery permits to no more than $15 per square foot.
Requires District agencies to wait until January 15, 2026, before enforcing rules on noncompliance with Streatery Guidelines or applicable rules.
Allows the Public Space Committee to grant waivers for distance requirements, enclosure height limits, and seating capacity if no undue risk is created.
Mandates that permit holders who receive a waiver must apply for renewal through the Public Space Committee every two years.
Requires one of the designated roadways in safety corridor plans to include the 2000-2400 blocks of 18th Street, NW, in Ward 1.

Who It Names or Affects

Businesses that hold or apply for streatery permits.
The Public Space Committee responsible for reviewing waivers and renewals.
District agencies tasked with enforcing Streatery Guidelines.
Residents and users of the public space on 18th Street, NW.

Terms To Know

Streatery: An outdoor dining area set up by a restaurant using part of the street or sidewalk.
Public Space Committee: The group authorized to review permit applications and grant exceptions to program rules.
Waiver: An official exception that allows a business to follow different requirements than the standard rules.

Limits and Unknowns

The law expires automatically after 225 days from its effective date.
The text does not specify how much revenue will be collected or lost due to the fee reduction.
Waivers are only allowed if they do not create an undue risk, but the specific definition of 'undue risk' is not detailed in this excerpt.

Bill History

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
2026-01-22 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Transmitted to Congress
2026-01-16 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Act A26-0241 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 000443
2026-01-13 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Returned from Mayor
2026-01-12 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0241
2025-12-29 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Jan 13, 2026
2025-12-16 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Legislative Meeting
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
2025-12-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Retained by the Council
2025-12-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Legislative Meeting
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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