Charlotte, NC Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)

A restaurant operator seeking sidewalk dining must sign an encroachment agreement with the city that covers the restaurant's name and contact information, the food and beverages to be served, proposed hours, a scaled site plan showing the dining area and the pedestrian clearance strip, proof of insurance, an indemnity clause, copies of health and ABC permits, and a processing fee, per § 19-273. The city will not issue the agreement unless the sidewalk seating is tied to an operating restaurant sharing the same kitchen and restrooms, stays clearly incidental to the restaurant (seating capacity capped at 50 percent of the restaurant's indoor seating), and leaves at least six feet of clear paved sidewalk in the uptown mixed-use and neighborhood services districts, or five feet everywhere else, under § 19-274.

Furnishings must sit at least ten feet from any driveway or alley, 15 feet from a fire hydrant or standpipe, and ten feet from a crosswalk or corner property line, and tables and chairs must come off the sidewalk daily at closing under § 19-275. The director of transportation can deny or revoke the agreement under § 19-276 for misrepresentation, creating a nuisance or safety hazard, failing to keep the sidewalk clean, losing a required health or business license, or violating the agreement's terms. Agreements run for one year, are not transferable, and the director can reclaim the space at any time, without cost to the city, for street repairs, utility work or events like parades and festivals under §§ 19-277 and 19-278.