Dallas, TX Special Events & Permits: Parklets (2026)

The city's COVID-era Temporary Parklet Program (Sec. 1)) let businesses activate parking spaces for outdoor seating, but special event permits issued under that program could not be extended past February 28, 2022 (Sec. 42A-12(l)). Parklet-style activations now run through the permanent Dallas Street Seats Program in Article IV of Chapter 42A. Under Sec. 3, a street seat must sit adjacent to the curb in an unrestricted parking lane on a street with dedicated permanent parking and a posted speed limit of 30 mph or less, may activate a space no larger than two parking spaces, cannot interfere with other curb uses or utility access, and is barred from designated fire lanes.

The design must be approved by all applicable city departments and comply with NACTO parklet guidelines (Sec. 3(d)). Applicants must also submit a professional-engineer road safety review within 14 days of application acceptance confirming NACTO compliance (Sec. 4), and obtain written approval from the adjacent property owner and any adjacent tenants before installation (Sec. 5). No more than one street seat permit may be issued on a given block without written support from additional stakeholders (Sec. 2(k)). The office of special events, under the director of transportation and public works, administers the program and issues Phase I (construction) and Phase II (occupancy) permits separately (Sec. 2(j)).