Berwyn, IL Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)

Section 804.31 of the Berwyn Code of Ordinances is the city's outdoor dining license. It starts with a size test: the establishment must occupy a minimum of 5,500 square feet and serve food, and the application goes to the Liquor Control Commissioner. A place that serves alcohol on the patio must hold a Class C or Class D liquor license issued by the city. The patio has to be an area where food is consumed. Alcohol can go with the food, but the patio cannot be an area where only alcohol is served.

The patio footprint cannot exceed 30% of the square footage of the interior of the establishment. The applicant pays $50 plus $.50 per square foot to the City Collection and Licensing Office, and the license runs January 1st to December 31st each year, so it is renewed annually. Hours of operation follow the establishment's hours of serving food, with the patio out of operation no later than 12:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 1:00 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Memorial Day, Labor Day and the 4th of July extend the hours to 1:00 a.m.

Beyond the excerpt, the section requires a privacy fence or similar structure around the patio that conforms to the city's Planning & Zoning Code, and chain link fencing is not allowed. Any special lighting needs Building Department permission and inspection. The awning or covering must be solid material covering the length of the patio and installed with Building Department approval. The floor must be concrete or brick, the patio needs hot and cold running water outlets on the outside of the building, and no food can be prepared outside approved kitchen facilities. There is no smoking on the patio. Separately, the food service fee table in § 801.13(KK) lists use of sidewalks for restaurant tables at $50 plus $0.50 per sq. ft. of sidewalk space used.