Seasonal Patio Downtown Business Consultation

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Satellite view of the corner of Whyndham and Macdonell in Downtown Guelph during the summer of 2020

We are asking for feedback from all downtown Guelph business owners to help further refine seasonal patio program recommendations for 2021 and beyond.

We heard from the public and the patio stakeholder group in 2020 and now we need downtown businesses to help us as we:

  • define downtown areas that will allow on-street patios
  • establish daily operating hours for on-street patios
  • seasonal downtown road closure boundaries for extended on-street patios


A recommended seasonal program will go to Council for consideration in March 2021.


Please note that this consultation is limited to one participant per downtown Guelph business.

Use both the survey and the mapping activity below to share your thoughts with us before 9 p.m. on Monday January 18, 2021


This round of consultation has concluded. Watch for updates about the patio program proposal to council.



We are asking for feedback from all downtown Guelph business owners to help further refine seasonal patio program recommendations for 2021 and beyond.

We heard from the public and the patio stakeholder group in 2020 and now we need downtown businesses to help us as we:

  • define downtown areas that will allow on-street patios
  • establish daily operating hours for on-street patios
  • seasonal downtown road closure boundaries for extended on-street patios


A recommended seasonal program will go to Council for consideration in March 2021.


Please note that this consultation is limited to one participant per downtown Guelph business.

Use both the survey and the mapping activity below to share your thoughts with us before 9 p.m. on Monday January 18, 2021


This round of consultation has concluded. Watch for updates about the patio program proposal to council.



Consultation has concluded

  • About on-street patios

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    CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

    On-street patios

    Engagement feedback shows support for on-street patios in the downtown for all business types.

    In response, several streets in the downtown have been identified for potential on-street patio areas. Each of these streets have been examined in detail to find all areas where patios could be considered for a patio permit.

    A permitted patio map has been created to identify "on-street patio areas" taking in to account the use of the space, traffic control, access to alleyways and turning radius of busses and trucks.

    Further feedback is needed on the location of "on-street patio areas" to better understand business support or concerns with the potential location of patios within these identified areas.

    Road Closures

    Due to the concentration of restaurants and the restrictions that traffic movement has on on-street patio availability, only the Wyndham Street and Macdonell Street intersection is being considered for a spring to fall seasonal road closure.

    The boundaries of the 2020 closure have been amended. Further feedback is needed to better understand business support or concerns with the potential seasonal road closure boundaries.

  • About the Maps

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    CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
    supporting image
    • The zoom capability is limited on the interactive map, see the information box (i) on the left side of the map activity to download a PDF to view each street of interest in more detail.
    • The green shaded areas are the only zones currently being considered for on-street patios. This does not mean a patio will be placed on all of the green shaded areas, but an on-street patio application that meets all of the necessary criteria would be accepted within these zones.

    • The maximum allowable depth of the on-street patios are indicated throughout the PDF download maps and may vary in different parts of downtown. Smaller patios may be considered in some cases.

    • The red markers on the PDF download maps indicate traffic diversion areas and do not necessarily indicate actual traffic barriers. Barrier needs will be determined each patio season based on the traffic safety needs of all of the permitted patios and the barriers used may differ throughout the downtown core.

    • For those maps where traffic remains open, the traffic lane size allows for vehicle access in each direction of traffic flow (including busses on appropriate streets) while also allowing space for an obstruction such as a temporarily parked delivery truck.



    Sample area of map to display marking typesSample section from the Macdonell PDF download map