Austin, TX Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)

Operating a sidewalk cafe or sidewalk storefront without a permit is unlawful under Austin City Code Sec. 14-4-3(A). The director of the Austin Transportation Department issues permits under Sec. 14-4-4, following Texas Transportation Code Chapter 316, and may not renew a permit until the applicant has provided proof of general liability insurance, liquor liability coverage if alcohol is served, and a surety bond as required by Sec. 14-4-13. The owner or tenant of the adjacent cocktail lounge, restaurant, or food-sales use may apply for a cafe permit; a retail-store tenant applies for a storefront permit (Sec.

14-4-6). The application under Sec. 14-4-7 requires a fee, a schematic design of the seating layout, and information on the adjacent business serving the cafe. Under Sec. 14-4-8, the director circulates the application to affected City departments, adjacent property owners and tenants, and utility franchise holders, and must make findings within 30 days or the application is denied by default. A denied applicant may submit one revised plan for reconsideration within 30 days without a new fee (Sec. 14-4-9). Sidewalk cafes and storefronts must be freestanding, open to the air except for approved shade elements, and must keep at least six feet of unobstructed sidewalk clear for pedestrians, a distance the director can increase for mobility needs; alcohol-service areas must be secured by balustrades or planters (Sec.

14-4-5). Permits run for up to five years (Sec. 14-4-11), are personal to the holder and not assignable, and the City may terminate one at any time, including for failing to keep application documentation current (Sec. 14-4-12). A permit holder may rearrange approved furnishings without director approval as long as the new layout stays inside the permitted area and is reported to the department (Sec. 14-4-14).