What started as an emergency is gaining some permanency.

Following good feedback from Fort Collins bar, restaurant and other local business owners, some of the expanded outdoor patios that popped up across Fort Collins as an early COVID-era response to indoor dining restrictions will be here to stay.

The Fort Collins City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to amend city code, permanently allowing for expanded outdoor dining areas on public property — namely on sidewalks not connected to a building, in designated on-street parking and “right-of-way” spaces and in private parking lots, according to recent Coloradoan reporting.

Expanded patios that have operated in private parking areas must apply and complete the city's minor amendment process to stay open.

And while City Council still must approve the outdoor dining design manual and code changes on a second reading — something that was still not scheduled on the council's six-month calendar as of Friday afternoon — more than half a dozen businesses were set to keep permission for their outdoor patios as of Thursday, according to city staff. They are:

Coloradoan reporter Molly Bohannon contributed to this report.