With the support and encouragement of City Council, City Manager Michelle Crandall signed several temporary orders on Tuesday, designed to help local businesses including restaurants and bars during the coronavirus pandemic. Each is effective March 17 and will be in place until ended by the City Manager or City Council.

The intent of these orders is to support and promote local businesses during this difficult economic time and to support the recommendations of local and federal health officials to promote social distancing within the community.

Temporary sign code modifications

The City will allow businesses to create more temporary signage.

• Window signs – A business may temporarily erect window signs greater than ten percent of the square footage of all windows for that business. Any increase shall not hinder the ability to view into the business for safety purposes. An application and permit are not required for this increase.

• Temporary signs, banners and sandwich boards – A business may erect one temporary sign, banner, or sandwich board on or in front of its establishment. There will be no application or fee for this temporary sign. This temporary sign must comply with all Building Code Standards and with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Old Hilliard restaurants and bars

The City will permit each restaurant or bar in the Old Hilliard Zoning Districts to block off and erect signage to create one temporary pick-up spot or parking spot to allow for easy takeout and carryout by patrons.

Food Truck and Push Cart Permit Application Deadlines / Applications for Temporary Locations

The date to submit an application for a food truck, mobile food vending unit, or pushcart for their annual routinely scheduled locations is extended to June 1, 2020. These permits will not be approved until after June 1, 2020.

If a food truck or mobile food vending unit wants to provide services to or in support of a City of Hilliard business before June 1, and those services require it to be on a City sidewalk, walkway, street, road, park, or alley, the applicant must submit an application to the City’s Building and Zoning Department with the following information: 

• Applicant’s name, address, telephone number and employer identification number or social security number;
• The requested location, date, and time;
• Copy of a current license issued by a County or City board of health to conduct a Food Service Operation;
• The name of the City of Hilliard business it is providing services or support to.

Upon review of the above information, the City may issue a permit which allows the Food Truck or Mobile Food Vending Unit to operate for the specific requested location, date and time.

Suspending issuance of peddler and solicitor permits

The City will temporarily suspend the issuance of permits for canvassers, peddlers, and solicitors.