Auburn, WA Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit type
- Type C right-of-way use permit
- Term
- 30 days to 5 years
- Application fee
- Nonrefundable, per city fee schedule
- Extension
- One 30-day extension on written request
- Notice to fix violation
- 10 days after written notice
- Unpermitted object removal notice
- 24 hours before removal as nuisance
Summary
Auburn requires a Type C right-of-way use permit before a restaurant or cafe can put tables and chairs on the sidewalk outside its building. The city engineer reviews insurance, bonding and encroachment details under Chapter 12.60 ACC, and approval can be revoked for code violations, changed use, or fraud in the application.
“Sidewalk cafe” means a portion of a public right-of-way on which tables and chairs are placed for the use of patrons while consuming food and/or beverages served by a cafe or restaurant on abutting property. ... Type C permit uses include, but are not limited to, groundwater monitoring wells, landscaping, fences, awnings, canopies, balconies, underground storage tanks, bus shelters, underground or overhead facilities such as fiber optic cables or utility vaults except when a franchise applies, use of the right-of-way to paint or repair a building or to stage for construction unless provided for in a construction or development permit, sidewalk cafes and other outdoor seating, and sidewalk vending units.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 7023, passed July 6, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under ACC 12.60.015(I), a "sidewalk cafe" is defined as a portion of public right-of-way where tables and chairs are placed for patrons of an abutting cafe or restaurant. ACC 12.60.050 lists sidewalk cafes and outdoor seating among the uses requiring a Type C long-term right-of-way use permit, which can run from 30 days up to five years (ACC 12.60.070(A); a term beyond five years needs full council approval). Applicants submit a nonrefundable application fee under ACC 12.60.020(D), and the city may require a certificate of insurance, indemnification agreement, or performance bond under the Chapter 12.66 ACC insurance guidelines before issuing the permit.
Permits covering downtown areas, full closures, or community impacts need the city engineer's direct sign-off (ACC 12.60.050(C)). Type C permits are classified as surface encroachments if they occupy the right-of-way up to seven feet five inches above ground (ACC 12.60.050(D)), which affects the fee category. A single 30-day extension is available on written request (ACC 12.60.070(B)), and only Type C permits, unlike Type A or B, may be renewed if the applicant files before expiration (ACC 12.60.070(C)). The city can restrict, suspend or revoke the permit on 30 days' notice, or immediately for a health or safety hazard, on grounds including failure to meet permit conditions, a changed use, or fraud in procuring the permit (ACC 12.60.070(F)).
Violations & Fines
Operating an unpermitted sidewalk cafe is a right-of-way violation under ACC 12.60.080: the city can order immediate correction, issue a written notice of violation giving 10 days to fix the condition, or declare unauthorized furniture a nuisance subject to removal within 24 hours at the owner's expense. Unresolved conditions let the city remove the structure and place a lien on the abutting property for the cost, collectible as a civil debt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a restaurant need a permit to put tables on the sidewalk in Auburn?
How long does an Auburn sidewalk cafe permit last?
Can Auburn revoke a sidewalk cafe permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Auburn
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Sidewalk Dining & Cafés in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle sidewalk dining & cafés.