Casablanca: The end of anarchy on the sidewalks?
The Casablanca municipality is preparing to tighten the rules for the occupation of the public domain for businesses and restaurants. This new framework imposes standards of mobility, aesthetics and accessibility to sustainably organize the urban space of the metropolis.
The draft amendment to the municipal decision will be presented at an upcoming special session. It stipulates that any temporary occupation of municipal land, whether for café terraces, kiosks or construction site installations, now requires written and express authorization from the competent services.
The scope of application is particularly broad: merchandise stalls, children’s play areas, circuses, telecommunications pylons and even filming accessories are affected. This measure aims to strictly regulate the situation of professionals and industrialists occupying public space for commercial or promotional purposes.
Particular attention is paid to social inclusion in this new text. Article 10 thus requires operators to reserve a minimum space of 1.30 meters long by 0.80 meters wide to guarantee the right of access and comfort for people with disabilities.
Terraces must in no way obstruct the passage of pedestrians, the access to neighboring buildings or encroach on the traffic lanes. The occupation of parking spaces reserved for vehicles is also formally prohibited.
Establishment owners will also have to guarantee the regular maintenance of public facilities located in their area. Furniture must be removed during the daily closure to facilitate the work of the cleaning services, while the gutters must remain clear to ensure the normal flow of rainwater.
