Paris (AFP)
The City of Paris wishes to better supervise the extensions of terraces allowed since spring 2020: these will become chargeable and may apply to professionals increased penalties in the event of infringement of the regulations.
The municipality wants to define a new regulation of displays and terraces (RET), the current one dating from 2011: "there are a number of things to review, on aesthetics, accessibility, cleanliness, safety" , told AFP Olivia Polski, deputy (PS) in charge of trade at the mayor of Paris.
The question of respecting the "sleep of local residents" is also at the heart of the debates.
The concrete measures of this regulation are the subject of "consultation workshops" with the employers 'unions in the hotel and catering industry (Umih, GNI, SNEG), residents' associations (Vivre Paris) and district mayors.
These consultations started last week and will continue in the coming weeks.
The new regulation should be voted on at the next Paris Council on July 6.
"We will better frame things", she continued, concerning the "ephemeral terraces" most often authorized in parking spaces, until 10 pm - against 2 am, by prefectural decree, for the terraces classic - after the first containment in spring 2020, which restaurateurs could request by a simple declaration.
This automaticity will come to an end and the projects will be "subject to authorization" from the city services, with an examination by the district town halls, specifies Ms. Polski.
These extensions of terraces could become perennial and then be subject to the "right of terraces" - suspended since the health crisis - paid by the professionals for a traditional terrace.
"This debate, we will have it with the professional organizations, but it is not within the framework of the concertation of the regulation", she says.
However, the price will be lower than that of the latter, whose median price is 425 euros per year.
"In the meantime, there will be a transition period: the current free system will be maintained until the end of June," said Anne Hidalgo's assistant.
In addition, in the event of a breach of the regulations, fines can go up to 500 euros, under a legislative measure adopted by the city in December.
Paris has 15,427 bars, restaurants, cafes, brasseries, of which around 12,000 have a terrace, and some 9,800 requests for extensions (including 9,000 relating to the occupation of parking spaces) have been made by professionals.
Since the start of the pandemic, measures to support the sector and the exemption from patio rights have cost the city some 34 million euros, according to a spokesperson.
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