JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A new bill proposed by Jacksonville City Council member Raul Arias aimed to expand outdoor dining and drinking options throughout downtown Jacksonville was unanimously approved Wednesday night during a city council meeting.
The legislation modifies existing rules to allow restaurants, cafés, and bars across all of downtown Jacksonville to offer sidewalk dining and alcohol service, expanding beyond the current limitation to the E-Town area.
“If we’re going to be talking about how we’re a world-class city, one of the best cities in the nation or in Florida at least - we have to act like it,” Arias, who represents District 11, said when proposing the legislation. “Our downtown, our urban core, is our most critical need right now.”
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The expanded outdoor dining privileges comes with specific requirements through the Downtown Investment Authority (DIA), including protection measures for pedestrians, vehicle traffic, signage requirements, noise restrictions, and proper licensing for alcohol service.
When he proposed the legislation, Arias said he saw the outdoor dining expansion as one piece of a larger puzzle to revitalize downtown Jacksonville.
“You go to Winter Park, you go to Austin, Texas - you’re walking around and you see all these shops vibrant, full of energy. That’s what you want in downtown,” he said.
The timing aligns with ongoing residential development in the area.
“Once we start getting more people moving into downtown, which is happening right now, those people are going to have to go somewhere,” Arias explained. “They’re going to be walking around, and they’ll be able to dine not just indoors but outdoors.”
Several businesses within downtown told News4JAX said they could see themselves taking advantage of the potential change.
The outdoor dining legislation goes into effect once Mayor Donna Deegan signs it.