The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every part of our daily routines, leaving most of our community questioning what their “new normal” will look like once Shelter-in-Place restrictions lift in Alameda County. While we await the chance to engage in a larger variety of social activities, we know that Fremont-based small businesses are hard at work preparing to re-open their doors.

The City of Fremont is helping small businesses resume outdoor dining and other commercial operations as quickly as possible through its new pilot program, Pop Up Patio. The program offers brick and mortar restaurants and retailers a streamlined permitting process to use outdoor space to conduct business in light of restricted indoor operation regulations necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This permitting process is now open through the City of Fremont and comes on the heels of recently released revised guidelines from the Alameda County Public Health Department for the re-opening of local business activities beginning June 19. Approval for the program is based on small businesses’ eligibility and is completed by City staff in less than 48 hours. Once approved, restaurants and retailers can prepare adjacent public or private space for respective business services.

The Pop Up Patio pilot program is one more way for small businesses to find economic relief through greater public engagement while upholding social distancing guidelines. We appreciate the members of the public who have continued to support our local small business community with programs such as Gift Fremont and believe that Pop Up Patio provides one more opportunity for customers to re-engage and support the permitted small businesses in Fremont they know and love.

Participating small businesses are encouraged to test and evaluate standards and proposed zoning amendments for a more permanent program that can be scaled citywide in the coming months.

If you are a small business that is interested in participating in Pop Up Patio, you can access the program application or view additional information by visiting www.Fremont.gov/PopUpPatio.