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

Article 4 of Chapter 2, Title 7 governs sidewalk dining on public walkways. Section 7-2.401 limits it to the Central Business District general plan land use area, and § 7-2.404 bars any sidewalk dining area without a written permit approved by the Director, defined in § 7-2.402 as the Director of the Community Development Department. A permit is not a land use entitlement that runs with the land and does not add floor area, square footage or seats to the abutting use (§ 7-2.403). Eligible abutting uses are a restaurant, coffee shop, donut shop, ice cream or frozen yogurt shop, bakery, pizza place, delicatessen and similar uses the Director determines; a bar, cocktail lounge or night club is excluded.

The application (§ 7-2.405) carries a processing fee set by City Council resolution, a declaration under penalty of perjury, a notarized owner letter if the applicant does not own the property, dimensioned plans showing seats, tables and time of use, and Community Development certification that the abutting property complies with zoning. Section 7-2.408 sets the standards: five feet of unobstructed walkway, an area no wider than eight feet, tables no more than 30 inches across, objects no taller than four feet apart from table umbrellas, and no placement within 20 feet of an intersection or 10 feet of a driveway or alley. Objects come off the right-of-way during closed business hours.

Alcohol service requires a Type 41 or Type 47 on-sale license, an Alcoholic Beverage Control expansion of the licensed premises, a physical barrier, a posted sign citing HPMC Section 5-3.01, and food service alongside drinks (§§ 7-2.409 and 7-2.410). Permittees also carry indemnity (§ 7-2.411) and liability insurance approved by the City Engineer (§ 7-2.412).