Downtown Bolton Patio Pilot Guide

The Downtown Bolton Patio Pilot Guide provides a comprehensive roadmap for businesses and property-owners in the Bolton commercial core to participate in a 2025 seasonal activation of public space. Through the pilot, select on-street parking spaces along Queen Street in downtown Bolton will be repurposed into a pedestrian walkway and outdoor patio zone, enabling cafés, restaurants, retailers and other enterprises to set up bistro tables, comfortable seating, outdoor displays and inviting gathering spaces.

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The guide covers key dates (including application deadlines, installation and take-down schedules), the licence application process, eligibility and compliance requirements (including federal/provincial/municipal regulations, accessibility (AODA), traffic-safety and insurance standards), site-layout and furniture requirements (minimum sidewalk clearances, setback from hydrants, intersection sight-lines), and how this pilot aligns with the broader revitalization and placemaking objectives for downtown Bolton.

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Whether you operate a café looking to expand outdoor seating, a retail business seeking added visibility in a vibrant pedestrian-first zone, or a property owner exploring ways to enhance your storefront and activate your frontage, this guide equips you with the practical steps, program context and municipal support needed to participate. The pilot also ties into grant opportunities under the downtown CIP (Community Improvement Plan) for more permanent patio or outdoor café upgrades.