Curb lane patios have been an interesting experiment in Toronto but next month, they're going to have to come down.

Restaurants and bars will be forced to remove their curb lane patios no later than Nov. 10. 

"Staff have been actively working with BIAs, Councillors and local businesses to communicate removal schedules in each area/ward for the past few weeks," Eric Holmes, strategic public & employee communications, tells blogTO.

The removal orders refers to curb lane patios only. Register patios that exist on sidewalks won't be going anywhere. They're permitted to remain in place throughout the winter until Apr. 14, 2022.

If there's a favourite curb lane patio you're sad to see go, however, never fear. A City of Toronto report that Mayor John Tory endorsed recommends the return of temporary curb lane patios next year. Installation could start as early as May 2022.

The report also recommends developing criteria for the permanent seasonal use of curb lane patios by summer 2023. Overall, the report recommends that CafeTO become a permanent program in Toronto.

#CityofTO report recommends plan to make CaféTO permanent and waiving fees in 2022.

News release: https://t.co/zaYmGuSHy9 pic.twitter.com/6Eww2IV7Wx

— City of Toronto (@cityoftoronto) October 20, 2021

"The CafeTO program has been a hugely successful and incredibly popular program that has helped hundreds of restaurants stay open. We turned parking spaces into patios to support small businesses and our residents," says Tory.

"There is overwhelming enthusiasm in favour of making the program permanent and to do so in a measured way that considers the many potential uses of public space going forward."

It was great to be on Gerrard St. East this morning to announce that the report coming to the upcoming Exec Committee recommends a plan to make #CafeTO permanent and waive fees in 2022.

CafeTO has helped so many small businesses and has made our neighbourhoods more vibrant. pic.twitter.com/P2vST8PEYw

— Paula Fletcher (@PaulaFletcherTO) October 20, 2021

CafeTO has supported around 1,200 restaurants with expanded outdoor dining in 2021, including 940 restaurants with curb lane closures for a total of 12 linear kilometres of public space devoted to outdoor dining.

In 2021, 429 restaurants opened a new sidewalk patio or expanded an existing one through CafeTO.