DDOT rolls out new fees for DC streateries

The D.C. Department of Transportation is rolling out a new set of regulations and new costs for restaurants that want to hold on to their outdoor space.

Streateries were once a critical lifeline, helping restaurants stay afloat during the pandemic. Five years later, many remain fixtures in their neighborhoods and still generate much-needed revenue.

“They’re going to charge us extra for that, and we can’t afford it,” said Raja Shaukat, who owns La Grotta in Adams Morgan.

Shaukat says restaurants are already struggling to make ends meet. When News4 visited, his dining room was empty, and he says business has been slow.

Under the updated streatery rules, restaurants would face a new $260 permit fee plus $20 per square foot, and they’d be responsible for buying their own jersey barriers.

“We absolutely said no to them because there’s no point in having a streatery out,” Shaukat said. “[…] Plus, with the economy and what we are going through right now in D.C., we can’t afford it.”

DDOT says the changes are meant to make outdoor dining more uniform, while improving safety, accessibility and overall aesthetics. But some News4 spoke with say they’re disappointed by the stricter rules.

“I think it’s a real shame,” said Gwendolyn Reece, an Adams Morgan resident. “This has been such a boon to the neighborhood and to D.C generally. It’s about the only good thing to have actually come out of the pandemic.”

“It’s really added to the public ambiance of spaces where people can come and sit even if they’re patrons of businesses or not,” said Adams Morgan ANC Commissioner Peter Wood. “It’s changed the dynamics of who’s using the public space and for what reasons.”

But others say they won’t miss them. Nadi Saleh, who owns Queen’s Cafe Hookah, says the outdoor seating was fine in the summer months, but overall, the streateries haven’t helped his business.

“Having parking places for the people, it’s going to help our business a lot,” Saleh said. “I’ve been 21 years in business. Since they started to do this, business is going down a little bit.”

Even though temporary streatery permits expired on Sunday in the District, DDOT says it won’t begin enforcing rules on non-compliant streatery structures until early 2026.