Restaurant patios in Toronto are reeling from a recent enforcement blitz from public health officials.
On Jan. 14, Mastrangelo said he was given three different violations or orders to comply. One for the fire hydrant being obstructed, one for not having two sides of their patio open and a third for issues with their gas heaters, which were later fixed, according to Mastrangelo. He said the latest installation of heaters on their patio cost $80,000, which are now out of use due to the closure. The entire patio structure, he said, cost the restaurant over $200,000.
The officials asked the owners to either close the patio, or take down two full sides, which include Plexiglas panels as well as wooden barriers, according to Canzona. “The City continues to work with businesses to educate them, help them understand the regulations and be in the compliance,” said an emailed statement sent Sunday.
Come on. These aren't patios; they're rooms.
The city can have inspectors shut down patios but can’t have brand new sidewalk plow machines all ready to work for the winter’s first major snow storm.