Dallas City Code Chapter 43 governs permanent sidewalk cafes through a license from the Department of Transportation, replacing temporary COVID-era patios with a year-round program that requires ADA clearance, liability insurance, and an annual fee.
Dallas converted its 2020 emergency parking-lane and sidewalk dining waivers into a permanent Sidewalk Cafe license under Chapter 43, Article VII. Restaurants in the central business district, Bishop Arts, Knox-Henderson, and other walkable corridors apply through Dallas Department of Transportation, providing site plans showing at least four feet of clear pedestrian path, ADA-compliant ramps, and barrier setbacks. Required: $1 million general liability insurance naming the city, an indemnification agreement, and an annual square-footage fee. Tables, chairs, planters, and umbrellas are allowed; permanent walls and roofs are not without a building permit. TABC permits are still required to serve alcohol on the sidewalk extension. Licenses run one year and renew administratively absent complaints.
Operating a sidewalk cafe without a license is a Class C misdemeanor under Code 43-100, fine up to $500 daily. Blocking ADA path or fire egress triggers immediate removal at operator expense.
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See how Dallas's al fresco permanent program rules stack up against other locations.
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