123 terraces in Porto have been granted licenses to expand areas. Expansion rate at 60%.

It is a week now that Porto City Hall launched the special regime for outdoor terraces and patios to apply for area expansion; so far, 123 terraces were granted permission and the expansion is at a 60% rate. 

The licensed area for public space occupation with esplanades has increased substantially these past days in Porto, especially downtown and in the historic centre.

The Townsman Office received the applications and the Department of Urban Planning granted licences to 123 requests from restaurants and bars to extend their outdoor terrace's areas.

Previously, this exact same number totalised 1.360 square meters of public space occupation in town; with this new flexible and provisional licensing by the Municipality, the occupation area extends to 2.170 square meters, that is, 810 square metres, which means an increase of a 63% rate in less than a week.

This immediate and swift accession by entrepreneurs in the catering industry, as well as tourism projects is telling of the importance of such measure.

Starting today, 18th May, cafés and restaurants, pastry shops and similar establishments are allowed to open doors and serve clients indoors; however, indoor maximum capacity is restricted to 50% capacity, which hinders businesses economic viability.

With this special regime, Porto City Hall implements a solution to compensate the restrictions due to Covid-19 regarding indoor occupation capacity, as it enables businesses to increase outdoor terrace occupation area, under specific rules.

Porto City Hall estimates that this authorisation to increase outdoor capacity continues to increase in the coming weeks.

 A form is accessible on the Balcão de Atendimento Virtual to apply to such licensing.