COVID street patio in Downtown Hamilton on King William Street during the summer of 2020 Credit: Joey Coleman / The Public Record

Hamilton City Hall is preparing for an “extremely heavy volume” of on-street patio applications from restaurants and other hospitality businesses when applications open next week for the 2021 season.

The City is prepared to process applications quickly, and is “aiming for a April start” to the patio season, City of Hamilton Business Development & BIA Officer Julia Davis told Business Improvement Area representatives during their monthly meeting Tuesday morning.

There were 163 applications last year, and the City is planning for a significantly higher number this year as outdoor dining will be essential to businesses as they manage COVID indoor dining restrictions.

A press release will be issued by the City when the online application site opens “later next week”.