Edmonds, WA Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)

040 lets a licensed food or beverage establishment temporarily use the public right-of-way lying between its own property and the street, but only within its own street frontage; any freestanding structure built into that space, such as a service stand, planter or awning, must still meet Title 19 building and fire code requirements. 050, and, where alcohol is served, written approval from the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board and the Snohomish County health division. Operators must maintain a clear pedestrian walking path seven feet high and five feet wide along the sidewalk, narrowing to four feet around obstacles like street trees or light poles, and any structure over three feet tall proposed for the right-of-way can be routed to the architectural design board for review.

All barriers except permanent markers must be removed from the right-of-way at the close of business each day, and every temporary object must clear the space within 24 hours if the city needs it for a public event. Street use permits vest no permanent right: the city engineer can revoke one on 30 days' notice, or immediately if the setup becomes unsafe, obstructive or a nuisance. Denials and revocations go to the hearing examiner as a Type II appeal, though the amount the city charges for use of the right-of-way is a legislative decision that cannot be appealed.