Evanston, IL Special Events & Permits: Parklets (2026)
Key Facts
- Structure
- Platform over parking space(s)
- Max width
- 6 ft parallel, 15 ft diagonal
- Barrier height
- 36 to 42 inches
- Hydrant clearance
- At least 15 feet
- Design review
- Engineer-sealed, Public Works approved
Summary
Evanston lets restaurants build a streatery, an on-street dining platform over parking spaces, under strict size, barrier, and clearance rules approved by the Public Works Director and a licensed engineer.
PARKLET. A seating area or green space created as a public amenity alongside a sidewalk and over a former on-street parking space. ... STREATERY. An on-street outdoor dining area located over the parking space(s) in front of a business. A streatery is a type of parklet. ... For use in parallel parking spaces, the streatery shall have a maximum width of six (6) feet from the curb line.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 21).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 7-2-6(D) defines a streatery as a type of parklet built over former on-street parking. An engineer-sealed layout must go to the Director of Public Works for review before installation. Platforms must sit flush with the curb and sidewalk, hold 100 pounds per square foot, and stay within six feet of the curb in parallel spaces or fifteen feet in diagonal spaces. A 36-to-42-inch protective barrier is required on three sides, and the structure must clear five feet from loading zones, eight feet from driveways, ten feet from bus stops, and fifteen feet from fire hydrants. Streateries are barred from ADA spaces and truck routes, and the permit can be revoked for noncompliance.
Violations & Fines
Building a streatery without an engineer-sealed layout approved by the Director of Public Works, or violating the clearance/dimension standards, subjects the permit to revocation under Section 7-2-6(D)11 and the $250/day fine in § 7-2-6(D)10.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a streatery under Evanston's code?
How far must a streatery sit from a fire hydrant?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Evanston
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Parklets in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle parklets.