Doing Business in Arvada During COVID-19

In order to support your request for expanded outdoor areas of commercial use, the City of Arvada will need to process a temporary use permit for the proposed area. Please provide us with a site plan, with dimensions, showing the proposed expansion area, as well as a narrative description of the temporary use dimensions and activity. Requests for temporary use permits that involve private property must also include written permission from the private property owner of the desired expansion area. The area must accommodate for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. Approved temporary use permits will be granted through March 31, 2021. Extensions beyond this date may be granted, based on conditions of COVID-19 related public health orders.

 

Please provide a detailed layout showing any seating or table configurations, equipment, heaters, cooking equipment or other items and provide measurements showing clear aisle and exit opening or "door" widths with your tent permit application. Please note, propane heaters, cooking appliances, and electric generators are not allowed under tents.

Tents for Supplemental Dining and Retail Areas

Open sided tents, including 10 X 10 pop up tents, with a maximum aggregate size of 700 square feet are allowed to be grouped together as long as these groups are separated from each other by a minimum of 12' fire break/open space. Single open-sided tents or groups of tents over 700 square feet require permits. Tents or groups of tents with sides that are over 400 square feet (total) also require permits. Tents must be staked in accordance with the tent manufacturer's installation instructions; water barrels are not an approved method of securing tents.

The addition of or changes to tent installations may be requested by calling 720-898-7435 or via email at POD@arvada.org. Revised documentation describing/showing any proposed changes must also be provided. Businesses, commercial tenants and commercial property owners need to follow the additional requirements set forth below to ensure continued safety of any tents during winter weather conditions.

1. Because tents are not designed to hold additional weight, they must be monitored during precipitation (snow, sleet, melt water) and any accumulating weight must be promptly removed.  Various telescoping tools are available to assist with this task. 
2. No propane heaters are allowed under tents. Approved (remote) tent heaters are allowed if placed at least 10 feet distance away from the tent exits with ducts extending into the tent.  Although heat may allow some precipitation to melt, monitoring for excessive accumulation of melt water is still required.  Provide the make and model (or product specification sheet) and location of any proposed heaters, noting distances to tents, on the (revised) site plan.
3. Propane tanks for heaters must be located 10 feet (500 gallons or less) or 25 feet (more than 500 gallons) away from any tent and they must be secured to prevent tipping or moving.  Tanks must also be protected from damage (not placed in areas subject to impact by equipment or vehicles).  Please provide the location of propane tanks, the tank size(s) and distances to tents on the (revised) site plan.
4. Tents are also subject to failure during high wind events.  Weather must be monitored and tents vacated or removed if the wind is expected to exceed the rating of the tent.
5. Addition of tent sides, the addition of doors, or changes to door locations/exits must be noted on and submitted for review.
6. If a tent is damaged or suspected of being damaged, it must not be occupied until assessed/repaired and deemed safe by the tent rental company or a Colorado licensed professional engineer.  Damaged tents can also be removed or replaced.  Please contact buildingpermits@arvada.org if you are replacing a tent because of damage.

Tents that are approved for continued use or installation will be subject to periodic inspections by the Building Division and/or Fire Department. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in revocation of the temporary use permit and required removal of any tents.