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

Article VIII, Sidewalk Business Use, was adopted 11-7-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-098-001 and gives the Mayor jurisdiction over any temporary obstruction or projection into, under or over a public way, while the Director of Public Works retains statutory authority over storage and sale of merchandise on parts of public ways under § 395-35. Every applicant must go through public review by the Board of License Commissioners under § 395-36, which grants a sidewalk business use license, maintenance, and indemnity agreement only after a public hearing, with final approval by the Mayor.

Sidewalk usage must be appurtenant and contiguous to the applicant's own storefront and cannot extend past the storefront's frontage without an adjoining owner's written permission, and the City can require the operator to open up more than four feet of sidewalk during peak pedestrian hours. Section 395-37 requires ADA compliance and sets an absolute floor of four feet of unobstructed sidewalk clearance at every point. Before the Board hearing, the applicant must show proof of separate sign-off from the Department of Public Works, which checks for underground vaults beneath the proposed furniture, and from the Inspectional Services Division, which reviews furniture and signage placement for 521 CMR accessibility compliance, under § 395-38.

The license under § 395-39 runs only during business hours, seasonally from May 1 through October 30 each year, and renews annually on payment of a fee and proof of liquor licensing and insurance where applicable. Section 395-40 requires the user to carry all construction, maintenance and utility costs and pay a rental fee the Board of License Commissioners sets and can change yearly, while § 395-41D sets a minimum liability policy of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate naming the City as additional insured.