Greeley, CO Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)
Key Facts
- Service area cap
- 50% of interior service area
- Sidewalk clearance
- 5 ft or 50% of width
- Site plan trigger
- >400 sf or >7 days
- Basis
- accessory use, same lot/frontage
Summary
Greeley allows sidewalk seating and dining as an accessory use, capped at 50 percent of interior service area, with a site plan required past 400 square feet or seven days.
Outdoor display and service areas accessory to an allowed commercial use, such as sidewalk seating and dining or sidewalk sales are allowed subject to the following conditions:1.Outdoor display and service areas shall be located on the same lot as the principal use or along the street frontage immediately abutting the use in the case of street front buildings.2.Outdoor display areas shall be limited to no more than 20 percent of the ground floor area of the principal use, and outdoor service areas shall be limited to no more than 50 percent of the interior service area.3.Display and service areas shall not be arranged where they interfere with pedestrian or building access or clear vision areas. When located on public, common or private sidewalks accessing the building, at five feet clear or at least 50 percent of the width any sidewalk, whichever is greater, shall remain clear and unobstructed.4.The area may be located in parking areas, provided it does not interfere with adequate parking and circulation of the entire site. The permanence of any structures shall be considered in evaluating the impact on adequate parking needs for the site.5.The area shall be screened from view along any property line abutting a residential use or district according to section 24-803.6.A site plan shall be provided for any outside display or service area more than 400 square feet, lasting more than seven consecutive days, or more than four separate occurrences per year.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 6 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Greeley Municipal Code § 24-403.h permits outdoor display and service areas, including sidewalk seating and dining, accessory to an allowed commercial use. The area must sit on the same lot or along the abutting street frontage, and outdoor service area is capped at 50 percent of the interior service area (outdoor display areas at 20 percent of ground floor area). At least five feet or half the sidewalk width, whichever is greater, must stay clear for pedestrians. A site plan is required whenever the area exceeds 400 square feet, runs more than seven consecutive days, or recurs more than four times a year.
Violations & Fines
Operating an oversized or unscreened outdoor dining area without the required site plan is a zoning violation; the community development director may impose conditions or require removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Greeley require a permit for sidewalk dining?
How much sidewalk space must stay clear for pedestrians in Greeley?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Greeley
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