Area restaurants could soon serve customers outside.

The Austin City Council preliminarily approved a sidewalk café ordinance during a work session Monday night.

The council discussed a potential ordinance earlier this year after Mark Nagle, owner of Dusty’s Bar and Lounge, approached the city about allowing businesses to put out seats and serve patrons outside.

Nagle said he was pleased to see the ordinance move forward.

“I hope it gets done and we can add a little vitality to downtown by having people outside and serving them near the street,” he said.

The city currently allows businesses to put out chairs to serve patrons as long as 70 percent or more of their sales come from food rather than liquor. Under the new ordinance, medium-sized businesses with state-licensed kitchens could put chairs and tables outside as long as they gated off the area using temporary fencing. In addition, the ordinance would allow outdoor seating until midnight.

Police Chief Brian Krueger had cautioned the council in August against approving the ordinance, as outdoor seating would allow customers to bring alcohol outside. Some people could abuse that rule to walk between bars with alcohol.

The council may formally approve the ordinance at its Dec. 15 meeting.