West Hollywood’s “OUT Zones” will offer outdoor spaces for dining, shopping and personal care. (photo courtesy of the city of West Hollywood)

During the coronavirus pandemic, the city of West Hollywood is taking steps to support businesses with solutions that protect health and safety by turning things inside out.

In July, the city began its Temporary Outdoor Expansion Permit program by offering streamlined approval for businesses to use sidewalks, on-street parking spaces and private parking lots as areas to expand operations.

Now, the program has been expanded and given a fresh, new name: Outdoor Use Temporary Zones, or OUT Zones. These temporary expansions provide outdoor commercial space in public right-of-way for restaurants, shops and personal care establishments to move operations outside to ensure social distancing and meet protocols set forth by the L.A. County Department of Public Health and state of California, which currently prohibit many indoor operations in these sectors.

OUT Zones and other business relief measures are outlined in the city’s most recent emergency executive order, available on the city of West Hollywood’s website at weho.org/home/showdocument?id=48059.

“Creating more outdoor spaces for expanded operations is a creative approach that will help West Hollywood’s businesses, residents and visitors as we continue to respond to the pandemic. OUT Zones will activate sidewalks, street-sides and parking lots with perimeter barriers for safety and will offer people outdoor spots for dining, shopping and personal care while supporting local businesses,” West Hollywood Mayor Lindsey Horvath said. “I’m looking forward to seeing you OUT there!”

The soft opening for the first phase of the city’s new OUT Zones program began on Aug. 25 with the installation of protective barriers, known as k-rails, outside of participating businesses, and the installation has now been completed. More than 60 West Hollywood businesses have been approved for temporary OUT Zone permits, and during the coming weeks, there will be many new zones coming out in the city of West Hollywood.

OUT Zones will be marked by colorful signage with spots to “Dine OUT” for restaurants and cafes, “Shop OUT” for boutiques and goods, and “Werk OUT” for exercise and personal care. People exploring West Hollywood’s OUT Zones are reminded that the city of West Hollywood has a mandatory face-covering requirement and are urged to be mindful of maintaining 6 feet of social distancing for dining, shopping and personal care under the sun and stars.

Businesses interested in applying for the program are invited to watch a one-hour webinar that provides program details and information on submitting an application to temporarily expand business outdoors. OUT Zone permits are free, and all parking requirements have been temporarily waived. For information, contact Paolo Kespradit at (323)848-6556 or pkespradit@weho.org, or visit weho.org/outzones.