BC Temporary Expanded Service Areas Expire June 2022: Apply to Make Your Temporary Patio License Permanent

Update: the TESA program has recently been extended until March 31, 2023, at which time BC liquor licensees who wish to continue operating indoor or outdoor patios licensed under TESA must apply for a permanent licensed area. Read more in this update.

Temporary expanded service areas (TESA) that allowed BC liquor licensees to serve patrons seated at outdoor patios during the pandemic are expiring on June 1, 2022. Few industries were hit as hard financially by COVID-19 as the hospitality sector. Restaurants, pubs and other food and liquor service businesses were forced to operate at vastly reduced capacity by Provincial Health Officer Orders.

Temporary patios were a much needed lifeline for food and beverage businesses drowning in losses during COVID. TESA authorization was first announced in May 2020. The authorization was first set to expire on October 31, 2020, a further extension was granted to October 31, 2021 and then ultimately it was extended until June 1, 2022.

After June 1, licensees that wish to continue using patios authorized under TESA must apply for a permanent structural change through the BC Liquor & Cannabis Regulation Branch. The permanent TESA application will amend your existing BC liquor license.

Apply for an Outdoor Patio or Indoor Structural Change

If you haven’t already applied, Thrive Liquor & Cannabis Advisors recommends that you do so as soon as possible. Summer and patio season is just months away and applications may take up to 10 months to process. The application cost is $440 at this time.

To apply to make your temporary expanded service areas permanent, you’ll first need to update your floor plan, clearly marking the structural changes.

In most cases, you’ll also need approval from your municipal government to increase capacity limits.

For Liquor Primary licensees, municipalities will also have to seek community input for the change of capacity.

Applications from Liquor Primary or Manufacturer licensees will be sent to local government for comment.

To apply as a Liquor Primary and Food Primary licensee:

1. Log in to the Liquor & Cannabis Licensing portal
2. Go to “Licenses and Authorizations” and locate the license you’d like to change
3. Select the option for “New Outdoor Patio” for TESA outdoor patios or select “Structural Change Application” for an indoor temporary service area
4. Complete the application

Don’t Loose Your Patio! Let Thrive Help Make Your TESA Permanent

Thrive Liquor & Cannabis Advisors can help your Liquor Primary or Food Primary business apply for a permanent outdoor patio or indoor structural change, so you can keep the additional seating you had under BC TESA authorization.

By working with one of our liquor license consultants you greatly increase the chances of application change approval. We gather the necessary documents, contact local and provincial authorities on your behalf, and ensure that all requirements are met before submitting the application. Most application processing delays are caused by an incomplete application.

If you have questions about liquor licensing in BC or would like to discuss your permanent patio or structural change application, take advantage of our free 30-minute consultation.