Today, Mayor Michelle Wu revealed an effort to produce dog-friendly areas at beer gardens and outside restaurant patio areas throughout Boston. As Boston continues to end up being a more family-friendly and dog-friendly city, this brand-new policy from the Inspectional Services Department’s Health Division will enable dining establishments to produce areas where dog owners and their animals can be together. All dining establishments and beer gardens with outside space in Boston can now make an application for a “Dog Friendly Spaces” variation, and might be prepared to invite dogs and their owners as quickly as June 1 if their application is authorized by ISD.
This policy modification remains in reaction to feedback from Boston homeowners who have actually revealed interest in having their animals join them at outside businesses. Dog Friendly Spaces should be totally outdoors, and facilities will be needed to make sure that no cooking is performed in this space. An individual who brings an animal dog to an outside dining location is accountable for the habits of that animal dog, and the dog needs to be on a leash.
“We’re committed to making Boston a vibrant, family-friendly City, and that means rethinking our outdoor spaces to better build community,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Residents and small business owners have been eager for four-legged family members to be able to enjoy our outdoor spaces too, so we’re happy to make this regulatory change allowing dogs on outdoor patios and beer gardens.”
“Creating these safe and sanitary dog friendly spaces is an exciting opportunity for both businesses and dog owners. The interest for such an environment has been growing, so being able to create a new policy to accommodate all interested parties is great,” said Inspectional Services Department Commissioner Sean Lydon.
“This policy change will help us advance Mayor Wu’s vision of a city that supports its small businesses, turns our neighborhoods into destinations, and creates opportunities for more residents to engage each other later into the night,” said Segun Idowu, Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion. “I am grateful to the community members who shared feedback leading to this policy change, and to our partners in ISD for setting requirements that keep outdoor spaces safe and healthy while establishing a welcoming environment for our residents and visitors by allowing dog friendly spaces.”
Food service facilities should complete an application, now available here, and receive a variation from Boston Inspectional Services Department prior to allowing clients’ dogs on the properties. Applications will be processed as they can be found in. Once authorized by ISD, dining establishments and beer gardens can begin permitting dogs and their owners beginning June 1, 2023.
“We’re delighted about the City’s choice to invite dogs in beer gardens and Aeronaut Allston aspires to welcome this policy modification. Our enthusiasm for cultivating an interesting neighborhood space in Allston is just improved by the chance to include our visitors’ furry pals,” said Ronn Friedlander, Cofounder of Aeronaut Brewing Co. “In recent years it has actually been frustrating to need to turn away consumers who appeared with their dogs. This summertime, thanks to this brand-new policy, we’re thrilled to invite dogs and their owners for live music, craft beer, food trucks, and the return of the much-loved Wall of Woof doggy picture screen!”
“It implies a lot to me to understand that the city listened when I explained how distressing it was that we developed a brand-new dog park, however still didn’t enable dogs in beer gardens or outside facilities in Boston,” said Laura Jillian Gray, an Allston citizen. “It broke my heart to need to take a trip to neighboring towns that were dog-friendly, since I didn’t feel welcome in my own community. With this brand-new modification to enable dogs, I can’t wait to enjoy this summertime in Allston once again!”
Inspectional Services Health Inspectors will offer outreach by means of handouts and host an online educational workshop on May 15, 2023 to help dining establishments comprehend the requirements and guidelines of the brand-new variation (information on the details session will be published here). Restaurants aiming to obtain a variation needs to follow all requirements. Failure to comply might lead to an infraction or cancellation of the waiver. Email concerns to the Health Division at [email protected] or call at (617) 635-5326.
About Inspectional Services
The Inspectional Services Department administers and imposes building, housing, health, sanitation, and safety guidelines mandated by City and State federal governments.
We are comprised of 5 regulative departments. Our objective is to secure and enhance the lifestyle for all Boston homeowners. Our objective is to serve the general public by securing the health, safety, and ecological stability of Boston’s business and property neighborhoods. Learn about our work.
