Brussels plans law to let Covid-era terraces stay up all year

Brussels state secretary for Urban Planning Audrey Henry (MR) is working on legislation that would allow Covid-era seasonal terraces to remain in place all year, rather than only in summer. According to BRUZZ, she has asked municipalities not to take them down for now.

Since the Covid crisis, horeca businesses (hotels, restaurants and cafés) have been allowed to set up larger terraces without a permit during the summer period. Seasonal terraces are normally due to be removed on 1 October. In a letter, Henry has asked municipalities not to dismantle terraces solely because of this deadline, and to leave them standing until the new law is in place.

The text of the legislation is in third reading, but it will not be published in time, according to the material. As a result, horeca businesses risk having to dismantle their terraces and then rebuild them shortly after the law changes.

Sector welcomes the plan

The sector federation Horeca Brussels welcomes the plan. Its chairman, Matthieu Léonard, said that dismantling terraces would bring considerable costs for labour, transport and storage at a difficult time for the sector.

Mixed reactions from municipalities

Horeca Brussels reports that municipalities have reacted in different ways. Saint-Gilles is pleased with the measure, which ends years of regulatory make-do arrangements.

Ixelles, which has 126 of these terraces, is more reserved. The municipality notes that the terraces are little used in winter while often taking up parking spaces.

Municipalities in the Brussels-Capital Region are responsible for much of the day-to-day management of public space, which is why Henry has addressed her request to them. For now, terraces can stay where they are until the legislation is in place.