Brockton, MA Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)

Section 11-460 makes outdoor dining a licensed activity, not a by-right add-on: every establishment operating outdoor dining in Brockton must get approval from the license commission, and each license runs for a period of one year. The commission itself sets the application fee, the license fee and the renewal fee, and it requires a site plan showing the scope and location of the outdoor dining area, including barriers, seats, tables, trash receptacles and signs, with the plan labeling the exact number of seats. The commission then designates both the allowed seat count and the hours of operation in each individual license, and it may attach further conditions for patron safety and welfare.

Establishments serving alcohol outside must submit a written statement describing how sale and consumption will be controlled in that area, on top of a separate Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission approval extending the premises to the patio. Section 11-461 governs day-to-day operations once licensed: normal vehicular traffic circulation cannot be impeded, fire lanes cannot be used for seating, and egress points and fire hydrants must stay clear. Outdoor dining areas must meet ADA requirements, restrooms must comply with the building department and state public health rules, and food preparation has to happen inside the restaurant kitchen unless the board of health specifically authorizes outdoor prep. Both articles were adopted by city ordinance on July 25, 2022.