Restaurants in Des Plaines may operate sidewalk cafes on the public right-of-way under a license from the City. Licenses require maintaining accessible passage, liability insurance, and removal of furniture during off-season.
Sidewalk cafe licenses in Des Plaines are issued by the City and typically authorize seasonal outdoor dining (April through October) on the public sidewalk in front of a licensed restaurant. Requirements include a layout plan maintaining a minimum 5-foot accessible pedestrian passage (often 6 feet on busy corridors), barriers separating the cafe from pedestrian traffic, certificate of liability insurance naming the city as additional insured, and adherence to the restaurant's Illinois liquor license boundary (alcohol service may require liquor license amendment). Furniture must be removable and stored off the sidewalk during off-season or overnight. Existing brick-and-mortar restaurant must be in good standing with all licenses. The downtown Metropolitan Square and downtown core area is the most common location, with other commercial corridors permissible case-by-case.
Operating without license: $250-$750 per day. Blocking accessible passage: $500+ and immediate removal order. Alcohol-service violations: separate state liquor enforcement.
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Des Plaines, IL
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