To support the recovery of Asheville’s business community and enable social distancing and safe public access to businesses and services, the City of Asheville is accepting requests from businesses and organizations located in Asheville's commercial zoning districts to temporarily expand use of private parking lots, landscape areas and walkways.
As of Dec. 16, 2020, this initiatives will be extended into 2021 for the duration of the Local State of NC Emergency issued by Buncombe County and the City of Asheville. Once the Local State of Emergency has been lifted, participating establishments will have 30 days to restore to pre-expansion conditions.
Restaurants, retail establishments and organizations with access to private parking, landscape areas and/or walkways may utilize these areas at no cost to provide service in accordance with the safety guidelines outlined in the Temporary Outdoor Expansion Guidelines for Private Parking Lots, Landscape Areas and Walkways, provided the consent of the landlord or property-owner is obtained and regulations and best practices by other applicable regulatory agencies are followed.
Please review all sections of the Temporary Outdoor Expansion Guidelines for Private Parking Lots, Landscape Areas and Walkways below before beginning your request. Then click the Begin button below to start your private space request.
Click here to access separate guidelines and online request forms to temporary use the public sidewalk and public on-street public parking spot "parklet" adjacent to your organization.
Call the Planner of the Day hotline at 828-259-5450 if you are unsure whether the space you are interested in using is public or private.
Once you submit your request, the City of Asheville will follow up with email authorization. You can expect to receive authorization or a request for further information within one (1) business day. Please ensure that your contact email address and phone number are correct in your request.
Applicants may not enact any request to use private parking lots, landscape areas and walkways until they have received authorization from the City. City authorization is subject to evolving public health and safety guidance. The City may necessarily amend, delay or revoke authorization at any time.
Businesses eligible to serve alcohol on their temporarily extended premises must review and follow all guidelines set by the NC ABC Commission and notify their ALE agent or District ALE office of the temporary extension of premises prior to use of the extended area. Note that guidelines from NC ABC are currently only valid during Phase 3 of Governor Cooper’s easing of restrictions.