Montgomery County, MD Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)
Key Facts
- Approval needed
- Board of License Commissioners written approval
- Barrier height
- At least 36 inches high
- Sidewalk/ROW use
- Separate written government approval required
- Non-contiguous cafe limit
- Within 50 ft of storefront width
- Board power
- May suspend or revoke privilege anytime
Summary
Restaurants and bars in Montgomery County need Board of License Commissioners approval before adding outdoor cafe seating, and any tables placed on a public sidewalk need separate written government sign-off.
Licensees may operate an outdoor cafe as part of the licensed premises only with the express approval of the Board. The Board may modify, suspend, or revoke the outdoor cafe privilege. Outdoor cafes approved by the Board must: be contiguous to the licensed premises, enclosed in a clearly delineated area, and surrounded by a continuous barrier at least 36 inches high at its lowest point with a controlled point of ingress and egress; and not be on public property or on a public right-of-way, without the express written approval of the appropriate State, County, or local government authority.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-90: Montgomery County Code contains legislation effective through May 7, 2026 | Zoning Updated Effective: April 13, 2026 | COMCOR Regulations effective as of July 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under the Board of License Commissioners' Rules and Regulations, a Montgomery County bar or restaurant may add outdoor cafe seating only with the Board's express written approval, and the Board can modify, suspend, or revoke that privilege at any time. Approved cafes must sit enclosed behind a continuous barrier at least 36 inches high with a controlled entry and exit point. Seating cannot spill onto a public sidewalk or right-of-way without separate written approval from the State, County, or local government authority that controls that property.
Violations & Fines
Operating outdoor seating without Board approval, or violating the barrier, sidewalk, or storefront-distance rules, lets the Board of License Commissioners modify, suspend, or revoke the outdoor cafe privilege entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to put tables on the sidewalk outside my restaurant in Montgomery County?
How high must the barrier be around an outdoor cafe?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Montgomery County
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