Chicago made expanded outdoor dining permanent in 2021 under MCC 10-28-820 and the Expanded Outdoor Dining Permit. Sidewalk cafes, street cafes in former parking lanes, and rooftop and patio expansions follow streamlined permits issued by BACP year-round.
MCC 10-28-820 establishes permanent sidewalk cafe rules, while the 2021 Expanded Outdoor Dining program lets restaurants extend service onto sidewalks, into parking lanes (street cafes), and onto private patios with simplified permits from the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP). Sidewalk cafes need a five-foot clear pedestrian path, ADA-accessible seating, and CDOT permit. Street cafes require Alderman approval, traffic-rated barricades or planters, and seasonal removal between November 30 and March 1 unless engineered for winter. Permit fees are calculated by square footage and location class; outdoor music and amplified sound require a separate Outdoor Sound permit and must comply with MCC 11-4-1115 noise limits.
Operating an outdoor cafe without BACP and CDOT permits, or blocking ADA pedestrian routes, can result in $500 to $2,500 fines per day and immediate Public Way Use suspension by Streets and Sanitation.
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