Eateries walk a fine line to offer Alfresco dining.

In the list of quality-of-life traits that lilts L.A. above so many other cities, a temperate climate that allows for year-round outdoor dining has to be near the top.

But what diners take for granted, especially this time of year, can be a major headache for restaurateurs.

From the beach to the Valley, each municipality has its own idea of what makes for a comfortable outdoor dining experience--issuing regulations that not only take pedestrian traffic into account but parking and the impact on surrounding residential neighborhoods.

Earlier this month, the Santa Monica City Council passed an ordinance allowing outdoor dining on Montana Avenue between Sixth Street and 17th Street, ending a longstanding ban on new seating. Here is a sample of other municipal rules:

* Los Angeles: An outdoor eating area must not exceed 50 percent of the interior area of the restaurant; tables and chairs must be freestanding and unattached to the sidewalk; and furniture must be put away when the restaurant is closed.

* Beverly Hills: Outdoor restaurant seating may not be located within 170 feet of residential zones; umbrellas must have at least seven feet of clearance from the ground; fixtures and furniture must be stored out of public view during non-business hours (unless a permanent structure is approved); and the material and design of furniture and the barrier must be approved by a city architectural committee prior to installation.

* Pasadena: Dining area may not be within 20 feet of an intersection or within 10 feet of a driveway or alley; alcohol can only be served with the expansion of a beverage license to the sidewalk dining area; and there must be a physical barrier to the sidewalk.

* Culver City: Sidewalk dining permitted only in the downtown and East Washington districts; and parking is required for any area over 125 square feet.