Café summer terraces in Riga may henceforth be installed according to a standard design

Businesses in Riga will henceforth be able to set up café summer terraces without requesting approval from the Riga City Construction Board and the Transport Department of the Riga City Council, provided that the terraces are installed according to a standard design developed by the municipality.  This is provided for by the binding regulations “On the procedures for coordinating and organising street trading”, which entered into force on 1 May and introduce a number of facilitations for street trading and the installation of café summer terraces in the capital.

Under the regulations, approval from the Construction Board and the Department will no longer be required for the standard design established by the Construction Board, which is available here: https://www.riga.lv/lv/media/12920/download .

In such cases, approval from both of the aforementioned institutions will no longer be required; however, a permit for street trading will still have to be obtained. Going forward, such permits will be issued by the Neighbourhood Residents’ Centre.

The condition remains in force that approval from the Construction Board and the Department is not required if only tables and chairs are planned to be placed at a public catering venue, provided that they have a design and colour scheme appropriate for the particular urban environment, are made of high-quality materials, and can be easily moved (examples of good practice are available here: https://www.riga.lv/lv/media/12917/download ).

Likewise, approval from the Construction Board will no longer be required when conducting street trading at a registered street-trading location, provided that the location has been equipped in accordance with the standard design developed by the Construction Board, which is available here: https://www.riga.lv/lv/media/12914/download .

Approval from the Transport Department for street trading, meanwhile, will be obtained at the Neighbourhood Residents’ Centre simultaneously with the permit for street trading.

To make the content of the documents to be submitted for the approval of registered and temporary street-trading locations clearer for businesses, the Riga City Construction Board has prepared the samples referred to in Appendices 6 and 7 of the regulations (see here: https://www.rpbv.lv/iesniedzamo-dokumentu-saturs-paraugs/ ).

Information prepared by: Project Manager for Public Relations at the Riga City Construction Board

Author

Communications Department of the Riga City Council