Huntington, NY Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)

Section 198-2's definition of "Outdoor Dining on the Town's Right-of-Way, Temporary" doubles as the Town's operating rule for sidewalk cafes. At the discretion of the Director of Engineering Services, a restaurant, delicatessen or other eating establishment may get a temporary permit to place tables and chairs on the Town's sidewalk right-of-way. The application requires a $200 fee and a sketch showing the number of tables and chairs, the seating layout and the exact area of sidewalk to be used. The permit runs on a calendar-year basis, from January 1 through December 31, and must be renewed every year regardless of when it was first issued.

Tables and chairs cannot obstruct the sidewalk to the point that two people can no longer walk side by side past the dining area, and the applicant must carry a certificate of insurance naming the Town of Huntington as an additional insured for the full permit term, plus agree to indemnify the Town against claims arising from the sidewalk use. Before applying, the restaurant itself must already hold a certificate of occupancy for its current use. The Director can attach extra conditions covering traffic, noise, lighting, littering or hours of operation to protect neighboring properties, and any violation of a permit condition is grounds for revocation.

The Code sets a specific three-strikes trigger: three cited occurrences of rowdy behavior, blocked pedestrian passage or littering, whether in one category or a combination, is cause for the Director to pull the permit outright.