Madrid Town Hall and the extension of terraces in Phase 1

The Madrid Town Hall and the extension of terraces in Phase 1 as a support measure for the hotel industry.

As a result of the health crisis that has led to an economic crisis in almost all sectors of economic activity in the city of Madrid And very especially in the hotel and catering industry, bars, restaurants and the like with their respective associated terraces. Thus, the Madrid Town Hall, to which we refer due to its proximity to our field of action, has adopted a series of extraordinary measures in order to achieve an urgent reactivation of the aforementioned sector.

Madrid Town Hall and the extension of terraces in Phase 1

Thus, when Madrid enters Phase 1 of the de-climbing plan, for the reopening to the public of the outdoor terraces, the uses of these must be adapted to the following rules:

The reopening will be limited to 50% of the tables permitted in the immediately preceding year on the basis of the corresponding municipal licence.
Adequate physical distance of at least 2m between tables must be maintained. Or, where appropriate, grouping of tables.
The general rule for Phase 1 for the hostelry and restoration industry enabled Town Halls to increase the surface area of terraces by increasing the number of tables provided for in the previous point. In any case, the proportion of 50% between tables and available surface area must be respected. By carrying out a proportional increase in pedestrian space on the same stretch of public road as the terrace.
It is established that the maximum occupation will be 10 people per table or group of tables. In any case, the minimum interpersonal safety distance must be respected.

In addition to the above, the Terraces Committee of the Madrid Town Hall, in order to encourage an increase in occupancy, has provided that the terraces in the city of Madrid may be extended to allow a maximum of 50% of the tables to be installed, in compliance with the social distancing measures, thus automatically authorizing all such extensions in application of the extraordinary criteria adopted by the Committee.

Any extension of the surface area to exceed 50% of the tables authorized in the previous authorization must be requested. A prior technical evaluation and individualised authorisation by the President of the corresponding District Councillor is required.

Therefore, the Commission has established the following interpretative criteria of the Terraces and Kiosks Ordinance. These measures must be considered as support measures, and therefore of an extraordinary and temporary nature.

Temporary Scope

The validity of the measures, as well as the authorisations granted under them, will be from the time the installation of the terrace is authorised until 31 December 2020. Extendable to take into account existing social circumstances.

Permitted elements

Only tables, chairs, movable parasols, movable partitions and movable industrial elements may be used for the surface area authorised in accordance with these criteria.

The extension of surface area will also be authorised for terraces with lightweight constructions. Only the above-mentioned elements may be installed outside the building. It may not imply an extension of the aforementioned construction.

Interpretative Criteria

Terrace area

As for the surface area of the terrace, this is expressed in the square metres obtained by multiplying the length of the terrace by the bottom of the pavement to be occupied. It will be possible for these to be extended lengthwise in the projection of the façade of the adjacent establishments. Provided that sufficient space is respected for access to the establishment, as well as the maximum possible visibility of shop windows and signs.
In addition to being located in front of the establishment and its two adjoining premises, they may extend over the whole of the building in which it is located and its adjoining buildings. If our terrace is also adjacent to another one, the length of its facade must be distributed in equal parts.
If parasols are installed in front of commercial establishments, these must remain closed while the tables are unoccupied.
This extension is understood as a maximum, that is, only for the equivalent space of the same number of tables and chairs as those that would correspond to the premises according to the current ordinance or in a pre-existing authorization. In this way, social distance can be maintained without reducing the number of tables.
If there is a doorway or vehicle entrance in between, the area will be extended after the doorway has been drawn.
In this exceptional situation, the terrace may be occupied at the intersections of streets that do not face the façade of the establishment (on the curve). Only with tables and chairs, thus avoiding impairing the visibility of road traffic. Umbrellas are allowed, placed in a vertical position and without side awnings at intersections where there are traffic lights.

Pedestrian crossing

The clear width of passage for pedestrians may not be less than 2.5m. A continuous route must be respected, avoiding breaks along a block line.

The possible space required must be taken into account, depending on the width of the access to each establishment, to guarantee a corridor that allows waiting to enter the establishment. Try not to interfere with the space for passers-by.

Occupation width of the terrace. Bicycle path.

The occupation may not exceed 50% of the width of the space where the terraces are installed. As an extraordinary criterion, the width of the pavement will be considered to be counted from the kerb line to the building’s façade. Including garden areas, flowerbeds or similar or any obstacle, urban furniture and trees. A free zone of passage of 2.5m must be respected in all cases.
For the purposes of measuring the width of the sidewalk where the terrace is installed, the bicycle path will be counted as part of the sidewalk.
Terraces cannot be installed in landscaped areas with vegetation or on areas with grids.

Other exceptions.

In pedestrian streets and on pavements where it is detrimental to pedestrian traffic to install the terrace in line with the kerb, installation may be authorised, attached to the building facade. It is essential to have separating elements, so that the pedestrian route is delimited.
Terraces can be installed on pedestrian streets of less than 5m. Provided that they allow the passage of authorised vehicles over a minimum width of 3.5m. And provided that they have protective elements.