Outdoor Commercial Umbrella Policies for New South Wales' Five Largest Cities

Posted: June 05, 2024

Commercial Umbrella Policies for the 5 Largest Cities in New South Wales

Protecting your customers from the elements is an important aspect of outdoor dining and events, but it’s important to do it safely and within the regulation of your local council. We’ve gone through the outdoor dining policies for the five largest cities in New South Wales in order to create a comprehensive list of regulations and restrictions for the use of umbrellas in outdoor dining areas belonging to businesses in each city. These cities are Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, North Sydney, and Parramatta. We will also include the policies so that you can check them out!

Before you start scrolling to your city, check out the following information which has been taken from the New South Wales Outdoor Dining User Guide 2019 and relates to every city on this list. Please keep this in mind while considering the best outdoor commercial umbrella to suit your outdoor dining needs.

Commercial Outdoor Umbrella Policies Relevant to Outdoor Dining Throughout All of New South Wales

Height, Size and Materials:

Umbrellas must be at least 1.2 metres wide.
Furniture including umbrellas should be weatherproof and designed for commercial outdoor use.

Appearance:

Names or logos may be displayed.

Installation:

Umbrellas can only be used where existing shelter such as verandahs, awnings, canopies and trees are not available.
Care needs to be taken that streets do not become obstructed through the placement of furniture and other items including umbrellas.
All umbrellas must be properly anchored to the footpath. This means that the umbrella should be installed in a suitable on-ground base.

Maintenance:

Store all furniture including umbrellas inside your premises when the store is closed.
Furniture including umbrellas should be maintained in a clean and orderly condition.

Source: NSW Outdoor Dining User Guide |Search ⇒ https://www.smallbusiness.nsw.gov.au/resources

Photograph taken by Anna Kucera

Outdoor Dining Area Policies Relating to Commercial Umbrellas in The City of Sydney

(Excluding The Rocks, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, and Circular Quay)

Height, Size and Materials:

Umbrellas must have a height clearance of 2 metres from the ground.
Umbrellas should have a fabric or matte-finished canopy.

Appearance:

The choice of furniture, including umbrellas are to reflect and build on the existing character of the local area.
Furniture and other items including umbrellas must have a colour and luminance contrast of at least 30% to the street, to allow them to be identified by pedestrians with low-vision. For example, bright, reflective furniture on a dark, matte, street surface.
Umbrellas should be square to take up the least possible space.
Where there is more than one umbrella, they should be of a single solid colour.

Installation:

Umbrellas should not have permanent fixings.
Umbrella bases should be safe, simple and compact to avoid causing a trip hazard for pedestrians.

Other Information:

Drop-down blinds, enclosures and canopies are not permitted. Umbrellas connected together by zippers or similar means are considered a canopy.

Source: City of Sydney Outdoor Dining Guidelines | https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/council-governance-administration/outdoor-dining-guidelines

Alfresco Dining Policies Relating to Commercial Umbrellas in the City of Newcastle

Installation:

Separate approval from City of Newcastle is required if you are going to erect permanent structures and/or awnings in a public space.
Articles placed within the outdoor dining area shall not protrude from the boundary except for flags, umbrellas and shade structures.
Umbrellas and shade structures must be anchored to ensure that they are secured to withstand the effects of wind.
Umbrellas and shade structures must be positioned to ensure that they will not cause injury to patrons or pedestrians.

Source: City of Newcastle Policy: Outdoor Trading | https://newcastle.nsw.gov.au/business/supporting-local-business-people/business-regulations/outdoor-permits/outdoor-trading

Policy Guidelines Regarding Commercial Outdoor Umbrellas in the City of Wollongong

Height, Size and Materials:

Umbrellas must have a minimum clearance height of 2.1 metres.
All furniture including umbrellas must be of a high structural and aesthetic quality.
All furniture including umbrellas must be suitable for use in a corrosive coastal environment.
All furniture including umbrellas must be waterproof, weather resistant and easily cleaned.

Appearance:

A single style of furniture including umbrellas shall be used by the food establishment to maintain a cohesive visual pattern.

Installation:

Outdoor furniture or structures shall not be permanently fastened to the footway without the formal approval of the Council.
Umbrellas and other shade structures are to be positioned wholly within the outdoor dining area and shall not encroach upon the airspace of the remaining pedestrian footway.
Umbrellas or other shade structures are to be appropriately secured or anchored to withstand all wind conditions.
Umbrellas must not overhang any road carriageway.

Source: Wollongong Development Control Plan, Chapter C12: Outdoor Restaurant and Footpath Trading (Street Vending) Activities | https://www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/8945/Wollongong-DCP-2009-Chapter-C12-Outdoor-Restaurant-and-Footpath-Trading-Street-Vending.pdf

Outdoor Dining Policy In Regard to Commercial Umbrellas Situated in Areas Under Regulation by the North Sydney Council

Height, Size and Materials:

Outdoor furniture including umbrellas is to be of a commercial grade.
All furniture and equipment including umbrellas must be strong, durable, waterproof and weather resistant.
All furniture and equipment including umbrellas is to be constructed of materials and comprise colours appropriate to outdoor use such as
- Powder coated or polished aluminium, brushed or stainless steel, neutral or painted timber.
- Canvas, non-reflective materials and darker colours (white is not suitable as it deteriorates rapidly in the urban environment).

Appearance:

All umbrellas used by a single premise or a building are to be the same colour and type.
- Where a locality is predominantly characterised by umbrellas with a single colour or type, then any new umbrellas must be consistent with that characteristic colour or type.
Umbrellas must not contain any advertising other than a logo that complies with the following:
- Covers less than 33% of the surface area of the screen panel.
- A minor and integral element of the furniture design and does not have an excessive visual impact on the streetscape.
- Only displayed on every alternate umbrella at a maximum.
- Only identifies the business or products that are a core part of the business’s activities and are supplied to the public.
- Only one product and one business identification name for each food and drink premises or business.

Installation:

Umbrella overhang of the licensed area may be required to achieve the desired streetscape appearance. In such instances the Permit holder shall indemnify the Council.
Temporary furniture and equipment including umbrellas must be stable and not prone to falling over when knocked by pedestrians or in high winds.
Must not be a permanent structure.
- Council may consider approving a permanent umbrella, but only where the applicant can demonstrate that the structure/s:
  - Won’t jeopardise pedestrian safety when using the footpath
  - Are required to provide added protection along busy roads.
  - Won’t detract from the urban streetscape.
- Minimum setback of 600mm from the kerb and the umbrellas’ edges.
- Must not extend beyond the designated outdoor dining area, unless it is required to provide adequate weather protection.
- Must be secured by a stabiliser foot or other restraining device to avoid wind instability.
- Temporary umbrellas must be capable of being removed in thirty minutes.

Other Information:

The use of clear plastic roll down weather screens on umbrellas may be permitted, but only where necessary and in periods of heavy rain.
Minimum UV rating of 50.
Must be waterproof.
Gutters may be installed between adjacent umbrellas to provide continuous cover.

Sources:

North Sydney Development Control Plan 2013, Section 8 Outdoor Dining And Display Of Goods On The Footpath | Search ⇒ https://www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/site-search/results/?q=Outdoor+Dining+And+Display+Of+Goods

Outdoor Dining and Goods Display on Footpaths Guidelines, Schedule 6 Logos (available as attachment to Report to General Manager, Item 8) https://www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/ecm/download/document-9085306

Commercial Umbrella Policy for Outdoor Dining Areas in the City of Parramatta

Height, Size and Materials:

Must be at least 2.2 metres above the ground level when open.
Must not be larger than 3000 x 3000mm.
Furniture including umbrellas should be strong, durable, waterproof and weather resistant, designed for commercial outdoor use.
May be powder coated or polished aluminium, brushed or stainless steel, natural or painted timber or canvas.
Be constructed of fire retardant material.

Appearance:

Suitable umbrella colours are natural, camel, terra cotta, Brunswick green or black.
- Dark colours are recommended.
May only display incidental advertising such as the brand of products sold or supplied from the premises utilising the outdoor space.
Logos must have only one product, logo or business name being advertised.
Logos must not cover more than 30% of any surface area.

Installation:

Umbrellas must be securely fixed to withstand the effects of wind at all times.
Umbrella boxes may not be included in an outdoor dining area without prior written consent from the Council.
- The location of any umbrellas must be shown on all plans submitted to Council when seeking an Activity Approval, Footway Approval or both.
Must not encroach on or interfere with pedestrian movement.
Be more than 400 mm from the kerb line.
Must not be fixed to adjacent building or awning.

Maintenance:

Must be removed when the area is not in use unless they are permanent.
An umbrella must be collapsed or removed when weather conditions beyond the capacity of the structure are encountered.

Other Information:

Umbrellas must not contain parts that are likely to cause damage to the pavement.
Public safety and comfort must be considered. Sharp edges, hinges or other moving parts must not present a potential hazard to patrons or pedestrians.
Must be removed or closed in extremely windy conditions.
Must be connected by inserts to reduce run-off.

Sources:

City of Parramatta Outdoor Dining Policy | https://www.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/sites/council/files/2018-07/Outdoor%20Dining%20Policy.pdf

City of Parramatta Outdoor Dining Guidelines | https://www.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/sites/council/files/2021-10/outdoor-dining-guidelines.pdf

NOTE:

This document displays information that is accurate as of 5th of June 2024.

Please keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list and we encourage readers to make independent enquiries in regard to any site-specific regulations as well as to the suitability of any product being considered.