Kill Devil Hills, NC Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)

177(H) makes an 'outdoor dining activity area' a special use, accessory only to restaurant use and excluding drive-in restaurants. m. No cooking or serving utilities, including grills, bars or drink dispensers, may be placed outdoors; all cooking and serving equipment must stay inside the principal building. Lighting, sound and signage, including signage on umbrellas, must comply with the Town Code. 073(F)(2)(b). The area cannot be roofed or shaded beyond standard table umbrellas and sail shades; a tent requires its own special-use or event permit. Sail shades face their own conditions: they must sit within setbacks, count toward lot coverage, stand no taller than 15 feet, cover no more than 40% of the approved dining area, and no single shade may exceed 400 square feet, with NC Building Code compliance and prompt repair or removal if frayed or unsafe.

076, and requires Health Department approval plus NC Building Code compliance. The special-use application must include a standard commercial site plan and a written description of hours, activities or games, and what food and beverages, including alcohol, may be consumed outdoors.