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

Under § 222-67, an establishment seeking to serve food and beverages on the adjacent sidewalk, or on other public or private outdoor areas, must apply annually to the License Commission for a permit; no other City board or department license is required, though the application is routed to the Board of Health, Building Inspector, Superintendent of Highways, Police Department, Fire Department and Mayor for comment. The application fee is $100 for either a new or renewal permit under § 222-67B. The Commission must grant or deny the application within 30 days of receipt; if it fails to act, the permit is deemed allowed under § 222-67C.

Eligible sidewalk areas must be at least four feet wide and restricted to pedestrian traffic, per § 222-66A, and food and beverage service is limited to the season of March 1 through October 31. Establishments that only want to place movable tables, chairs or benches on the sidewalk without serving food, under § 222-66B, need no permit at all, only a sidewalk placement notice filed with the Director of Public Works, plus $1,000,000 in general liability coverage naming the City as additional insured. Furnishings on any adjacent sidewalk or right-of-way area under § 222-68 are limited to movable tables, chairs, umbrellas and heat lamps; no permanent roof may be erected, and alcohol-serving areas must be separated from pedestrian walkways with a nonmovable enclosure such as decorative fencing.

Under § 222-69, outdoor dining areas must be cleaned daily and may not store trash or refuse, and § 222-72 requires that adequate room for pedestrian passage on the remaining sidewalk be maintained at all times.