Burlington, WI Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)
Key Facts
- Eligible districts
- B-2 and B-2A only
- Hours allowed
- 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Seasonal ban
- Nov. 1 to Feb. 28
- Furniture curfew
- in by 11 p.m. or close
- Alcohol permit window
- March 1 to Oct. 31
- Repeat-removal penalty
- 12-month permit revocation
Summary
Restaurants and shops in Burlington's B-2 and B-2A downtown districts can put tables and chairs on the public sidewalk under City Code § 274-11D, but only with a right-of-way permit, only 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., never November 1 through February 28, and everything must come inside by 11 p.m.
Outdoor seating may be permitted on City sidewalks in the B-2 and B-2A Zoning Districts, i.e., the downtown and primarily the Historic Preservation Overlay District. Seating may be allowed on any facade facing a public right-of-way, with the exception of an alleyway. ... A right-of-way permit will be required in order to verify that minimum sidewalk widths are available. ... All tables, chairs or other furniture or trash receptacles must be brought in at the end of each business day or no later than 11:00 p.m., whichever is sooner, or the same is subject to removal by the City. ... No tables, chairs or other furniture or trash receptacles may be placed outside during the regular snow season, i.e. November 1 through February 28 annually, or any other nonregular snow season snow days. ... This use is only permitted between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4997580; v29 updated 2026-07-07; through 07-07-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 274-11D(1) confines sidewalk seating to the B-2 and B-2A Zoning Districts, essentially downtown and the Historic Preservation Overlay District, on any facade facing a public right-of-way, excluding alleyways. Subsection (2) limits it to open, operating first-floor businesses and bars stretching seating onto a neighboring frontage even with that owner's permission. A right-of-way permit, with a fee set by the Common Council, is required under (5) to confirm minimum sidewalk widths remain available for pedestrians, and ADA accessibility standards apply under (4). Only tables, chairs, other weatherproof furniture, and trash receptacles are allowed; umbrellas, candles, other artificial lighting, and left-out condiments are banned under (6), and nothing may be anchored to public property under (7).
, whichever comes first, under (8), and trash receptacles must be covered and emptied regularly under (9). under (16). 1, lets a qualifying restaurant add a separate "sidewalk alcohol sales permit": the holder must be a restaurant under Wis. , and the permit is valid only from March 1 through October 31 of the issuance year.
Violations & Fines
Under § 274-11D(15), the City can remove noncompliant tables, chairs, furniture, or trash receptacles from the sidewalk without warning and dispose of them without compensating the owner. If the City has to remove items from the same property a second time within 12 months of a prior notice, the property's right-of-way permit for sidewalk seating is revoked for 12 months. Chapter 274's general penalty, § 274-12 tied to § 1-4, also applies Code-wide, forfeiting $5 to $500 for a first offense and $10 to $1,000 for a repeat offense within a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where in Burlington can a restaurant put out sidewalk tables?
What hours and season is sidewalk dining allowed?
Can a sidewalk cafe serve alcohol in Burlington?
What happens if a business leaves furniture out past the deadline?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Burlington
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