The summer season for outdoor dining in Stockholm officially begins on April 1, according to city officials. Currently, different permits are required for different seasons, and the application process is fraught with bureaucracy, as described by Frans Elinder, an expert in urban development at the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber of Commerce proposes introducing a so-called 'Stockholm meter' that would allow restaurants to set up smaller outdoor dining areas in all seasons without applying for a permit.
However, the city councilor, Lars Strömgren, does not believe the proposal would lead to more outdoor dining establishments. The Chamber of Commerce released the proposal a year ago and has not received much response from Stockholm city since then, according to Frans Elinder. The city collaborates with districts and police before granting permits to ensure outdoor dining does not cause obstructions, such as to accessibility, according to Strömgren.
Applicants today get permits if the possibility exists, but in places where it is not possible, sidewalks need to be widened and more space created, he added. Restaurant manager Klara Kvarnbäck recently had an application for outdoor dining rejected. A permit for outdoor dining can cost up to 2,500 kronor per square meter, according to official sources.
The number of outdoor dining establishments reached an all-time high last year, according to Lars Strömgren.