Louisville considers waiving $1,000 patio rental fee

The Louisville City Council is set to discuss a proposal to waive the $1,000 rental fee for local businesses wanting to use outdoor patios this summer. This discussion will take place during the council meeting on Tuesday at City Hall. If approved, businesses can apply for the 34 outdoor patios starting in late March. The patios are scheduled to be installed by late April. The intention behind waiving the fee is to help local businesses thrive and to enhance the atmosphere in Downtown Louisville. The patio rental program began in 2008. It was put on hold in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, when the city closed Main Street to encourage outdoor dining. Last year, the council also waived the rental fee to support local businesses.