Jacksonville, FL Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)

Operating a sidewalk cafe on a City sidewalk without a permit is unlawful under Sec. 250.904: only the owner of a validly licensed, operating restaurant can apply, through the Public Works Department's Building Inspection Division, with the fee paid to the Tax Collector. The rule only reaches six named districts (Avondale, Five Points, Park and King Streets, San Marco Square, San Marco Boulevard, and Stockton Street) per Sec. 250.902. Applicants must submit a scaled drawing, proof of the restaurant's occupational license, liability insurance, and the property owner's written consent (Sec. 250.906). Sec. 250.907 sets hard placement rules: sidewalks must be at least 8 feet wide (7'7" in Stockton Street), a 4-foot clear pedestrian passageway must remain (6 feet in high-pedestrian areas), and no obstruction may sit within 18 inches of a curb, 5 feet of a fire hydrant/exit, or 10 feet of a bus stop.