BHC Outdoor Dining Program (Printable copy of this page)

The City of Bullhead City has created the outdoor dining program to temporarily allow restaurants, bars and other eligible businesses to expand their business footprint into private parking facilities after administrative staff approval. This may also include expanded alcohol license premises if approved by the Bullhead City Clerk’s office and filed with the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control. This program is subject to all local, state and federal health orders, laws and guidelines.

The City has implemented this program to assist businesses affected by reduced occupancy restrictions. This program is not meant to promote gathering or social spaces, and is only meant to allow food and beverage customers to be seated in accordance with physical distancing requirements. This temporary program goes into effect immediately and will continue until further notice.

Bullhead City Staff Contacts:

Outdoor seating approval: Planning & Zoning, 928-763-0123 x 268

Liquor license information: City Clerk, 928-763-9400 x 468

1. Local, state and federal regulations must be maintained:

   Public health guidelines are continually changing to meet current needs. Any outdoor seating allowed is subject to the local, state and federal public health orders and laws, and is subject to change at any time. Please refer to https://covid-19-mohave.hub.arcgis.com/ for updates from the Mohave County Health Department.

2. Outdoor dining in private parking lots:

   This program temporarily allows restaurants and other eligible establishments to reduce their parking requirement by up to 50% in order to allow for outdoor dining areas. A site plan must be submitted to the Planning and Zoning Department for verification of minimum parking requirements. The site plan must designate the limits of the outdoor dining area, existing parking areas to remain, accessible routes, and building entrances.

   • ADA Requirements:

     Handicap accessible parking and accessible routes must be maintained or relocated so as to meet the requirements of the 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines. Please contact a City Planner for detailed information. 

   • Temporary outdoor eating regulations:
     1. Hours of operation: 7am to 10pm
     2. Outdoor amplified sound is allowed, but at no time shall cause a nuisance to any adjoining residential uses or districts
     3. No vertical drinking/beer gardens allowed
     4. Additional lighting required for dining after dusk shall be shielded and directed away from any streets and residential districts
     5. Tables, chairs, barricades and fencing shall be secured when not in use.
     6. If alcohol is served, signs shall be displayed for patrons stating that alcohol must stay within seating area
     7. Dining areas must be located on a paved or dust-free surface
     8. Tables must be set so as to provide a minimum of 6’ between diners at different tables
     9. Seating areas shall be located behind traffic barriers, barricades, fencing, etc.
     10. Establishments serving liquor outdoors must have fencing surrounding the dining/drinking area
     11. Tents (including canopies, umbrellas, etc.) that are 10’ x 12’ in size or smaller may be temporarily erected in parking spaces to provide shade for dining area
         • Tents must be secured at all times to the ground with weights, sandbags, concrete buckets, etc.
         • No heaters or smoking allowed under tents
         • Tents must remain open on at least one side to allow for air flow

            

3. Extension of licensed premises for serving alcohol:

Once an outdoor eating area is approved, the business can apply for a temporary extension of premises. The applicant must submit an application to the City Clerk’s office for review, including a site plan that depicts the proposed outdoor dining area and required barricades/fencing.

The city’s extension of premises application can be found at:  https://www.bullheadcity.com/government/departments/city-clerk/forms.

The state’s requirements and guidelines can be found at: https://azliquor.gov/covid19/index.cfm