Irvington, NJ Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)

Chapter 413 of the Township Code, adopted July 13, 2020 by Ord. No. MC 3725, governs outdoor dining. Section 413-1 makes permits for outdoor retail dining and consumption services available to licensees holding a current retail consumption license, with each permit term running from April 30 through November 30 and requiring annual renewal; no single permit may cover multiple businesses or facilities. Section 413-9 sets the fee at $100 per facility or business for Township businesses already holding a food and/or beverage license. Section 413-6 requires any lateral expansion request to include design and layout plans limited to contiguous areas, with lighting plans for safety visibility, and bars using bare ground or grass, requiring asphalt, cement, brick or other nonpermeable cleanable surfaces instead; expansion onto a neighboring private lot needs the adjacent owner's written consent, and expansion onto Township parks or playgrounds needs Town Council resolution plus a Health Department recommendation.

A six-foot unobstructed pedestrian pathway must be maintained at all times under §§ 413-5D and 413-6D, and furniture may never be permanently affixed to the sidewalk under § 413-6H. Section 413-7 lets the Township order removal of any outdoor dining setup that obstructs traffic or endangers public safety, with no Township liability for resulting property loss. Enforcement spans the Department of Health, Mayor, Business Administrator, law enforcement, Fire Inspector, and Housing and Zoning under § 413-8.