From 1 November 2020, the 750 summer terraces in the City of Geneva can be extended until 28 February 2021. In principle, the summer terraces are only open until the end of October. This extension will be free for any café or restaurant owners who want to take advantage of this option.
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“This measure adopted by the Administrative Council has two objectives,” explains Administrative Councillor Marie Barbey-Chappuis, who is responsible for the Department of Safety and Sports.
“First of all, it provides support for local businesses and an entire sector that is encountering severe difficulties,” states the magistrate. “It is also a very tangible means of ensuring the city centre remains a vibrant place, which is important both for inhabitants and for the attractiveness of the City.” These terraces will allow people to make the most of fine winter days, in particular at midday and at the end of the day after work.
The extended summer terraces will only be open until 9 p.m. (instead of 1 or 2 the next morning in summer) in order to avoid too much noise at night in the different districts. “In certain streets, the residents already suffer from noise at night so we do not want to exacerbate the situation. I have even asked the municipal police to increase controls in this respect and sanctions will be taken in the event of abuse, in particular including the withdrawal of the authorisation to operate the terrace.”
In addition to these modified opening times, any business owners interested in extending the duration of their terraces must comply with a certain number of conditions (compliance with the area allocated, cleanliness, no installation of partition walls, compliance with health measures linked to Covid). In accordance with the cantonal registration, heaters powered by fuel oil, electricity or gas derived from fossil sources are not permitted on terraces.
This support measure intended for café & restaurant owners will give rise to a shortfall of CHF 200,000 for the City of Geneva. It accompanies the measures already taken within the scope of the health crisis in favour of local business, in particular free sites for markets and terraces in 2020 and a discount of 50% on the encroachment tax for advertising material and signs (menus on an easel in front of restaurants, etc.). Altogether, these measures represent a shortfall of slightly more than CHF 2 million for the City of Geneva.
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Article modifié le 14.07.2023 à 08:53