The City is in the midst of considering the
relaxation of requirements to make it easier for most restaurants to open and
operate. At the Planning Commission meeting of December 11, 2019, the Planning
Commission voted 5-0 recommending the City Council approve a Code Amendment to
allow what is termed a “Small Format Restaurant” to operate in the City of
Fountain Valley with an over-the-counter approval. Restaurants that may qualify
as a Small Format Restaurant would be those with less than 50 seats that have
no negative impacts to uses surrounding them such as late hours of operation, a
drive-thru, accessory entertainment, or located close to residential
properties. On January 21, 2020, the City Council voted unanimously to
introduce the new rules with the second reading scheduled for February 4, 2020.