Cicero, IL Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit fee
- $100 + $0.50/sq ft annually
- Season
- March 1 through December 1
- Hours
- 8:00 a.m. to midnight (11 p.m. some areas)
- Clear path required
- 6 feet minimum sidewalk width
- Insurance required
- $1,000,000 liability, Town as additional insured
Summary
Restaurants in Cicero need a permit from the license officer, approved by the finance committee, before placing tables on a public sidewalk. The permit costs $100.00 plus $0.50 per square foot, runs March 1 through December 1, and requires the sidewalk to keep six feet clear for pedestrians and wheelchairs at all times under Sec. 82-34.
(1)The use of sidewalks for restaurant tables shall only be permitted incidental to the operation of a restaurant on private contiguous property... (12)In no event shall the uses permitted by this section reduce the open portion of any sidewalk to less than six feet in width... (19)When due, the annual permit fee for any use pursuant to this section shall be $100.00 plus $0.50 per square foot of the gross sidewalk space used;(20)The permit may be revoked in the same manner set forth in article II, chapter 26 of this Code.(21)Such permit shall be effective from March 1 to December 1 each year. The hours of operation shall be no earlier than 8:00 a.m. and no later than 12:00 a.m., except in certain areas where the hours of operation will be no earlier than 8:00 a.m. and no later than 11:00 p.m.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 121).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 82-34 lets Cicero's license officer issue permits for restaurant sidewalk tables only when the use is incidental to a restaurant on the adjoining private property; applicants submit a site plan showing the entrance, parking meters, fire hydrants, light poles, signs and trees, and the license officer forwards a recommendation to the finance committee, which makes the final call after town staff confirm the setup won't unreasonably interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic. 50 per square foot of sidewalk space used. 00 of food. Loud music, live entertainment such as palm readers or mimes, and animals other than service animals are all barred from the permitted area, and every patron must wear a shirt and shoes.
A denied applicant can appeal under Sec. 26-32 of the Town Code, and the permit itself can be revoked under the process in article II, chapter 26.
Violations & Fines
The license officer must deny a Sec. 82-34 sidewalk table permit to any applicant who owes a debt to the Town, and can revoke an issued permit the same way permits are revoked under chapter 26, article II, of the Town Code. Reducing the required six-foot clear pedestrian path, playing music that violates the noise limits in Sec. 38-27, or letting tables spill beyond the restaurant's own frontage are each grounds for the seating to be declared a public nuisance and shut down.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Cicero sidewalk table permit cost?
What time can a Cicero restaurant use its sidewalk tables?
How much sidewalk has to stay open for pedestrians in Cicero?
Does a Cicero sidewalk cafe need insurance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cicero
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Sidewalk Dining & Cafés in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle sidewalk dining & cafés.