As small businesses attempt to resume operations in the first phase of the State of Florida’s executive re-opening order, Orlando City Hall has released a series of initiatives to help retail and restaurants operate at 25 percent capacity indoors.

Editor’s Note: This has nothing to do with the #BringToOrlando column we published over the weekend asking for the City of Orlando to allow for the permit-free expansion of outdoor seating for our local businesses.

The opportunities include:

  • Businesses will be allowed to expand their retail sales and restaurant seating into outdoor areas like private parking lots and public rights-of-way.
  • Businesses can use small, farmer’s market-style 12×12 tents to accommodate sales and seating outdoors.
  • Businesses can use extra banners and signage to market themselves.
  • The City will cover the costs of downtown parking to encourage residents to visit businesses in the urban core.

The ability to operate in the public right-of-way will be considered by City Council on Monday, May 11 but the remaining actions are effective immediately.

City Council will also vote to suspend the need to obtain any permits or pay any fees to take advantage of these new programs through September 1, 2020.

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