As prime patio season approaches, Victoria businesses can expect to see their city patio fees revert to 2023/2024 rates.
The City of Victoria’s longstanding outdoor patio program included graduated fees scheduled to rise this year in anticipation of economic recovery. However, city staff presented a report to council outlining reasons to halt the increase.
“Due to multiple localized and international economic factors, including atypical inflation rates on wages, rents, business levies, and cost of goods sold, as well as cross-border tariffs, the pace of economic recovery anticipated in 2023 has not materialized,” the report reads.
Business owners in the program said doubling the fees in 2025 would be unsustainable for already challenged restaurants, and staff recommended rolling back those costs. The move will also see those who paid ahead get a refund.
“By maintaining consistent rates, restaurants establishing patios through this program will continue to make use of these spaces, and promote vibrancy throughout the city, and particularly within the downtown,” the report reads.
While it means the city will collect about half of the outdoor patio revenues, about $80,000 based on 2024 revenues, council sitting as committee April 10, unanimously agreed.
The city has 92 established patios with 54 approved so far this year.
