Long Beach, CA Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- Department of Public Works
- Min. remaining walkway width
- 10 ft, with 5 ft clear
- Barrier height cap
- 48 inches
- Permit term
- 1 year, renewable
- Governing manual
- Sidewalk Dining and Parklets Handbook
- Noise standard
- must comply with Chapter 8.80
Summary
Restaurants that want to seat diners on a Long Beach public sidewalk need a Public Walkway Occupancy Permit from the Department of Public Works. Municipal Code § 14.14.045 bars occupying any part of the public walkway for dining or entertainment "except as permitted by this Chapter," with design and noise standards layered on top of the base permit in § 14.14.020.
A.No person may occupy or cause to be occupied any portion of the public walkway for the purpose of providing dining or entertainment except as permitted by this Chapter or as elsewhere provided for in this Code....1.All dining or entertainment areas shall be defined by placement of sturdy barriers, not to exceed forty-eight inches (48") in height, as approved by the City Engineer.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 52 Update 1 | City Charter: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 14.14, Public Walkway Occupancy Permits, rewritten in its entirety by ORD-24-0002 in January 2024, governs any "obstruction," including restaurant tables, chairs and barriers, placed on a Long Beach sidewalk. Section 14.14.020(A) requires a written permit from the Department of Public Works before anyone occupies a public walkway with an obstruction, available only to the adjoining property owner or a lessee with the owner's consent (§ 14.14.020(B)), for an initial term capped at one year (§ 14.14.020(E)). For dining specifically, § 14.14.045(A) separately bars occupying any part of the walkway "for the purpose of providing dining or entertainment except as permitted by this Chapter," and § 14.14.045(C) requires the seating area to be enclosed by "sturdy barriers, not to exceed forty-eight inches (48") in height," with all accessories, planters, umbrellas, menu boards, heaters, kept inside that barrier.
Section 14.14.040 sets physical minimums: the remaining public walkway must stay at least 10 feet wide with at least 5 feet left fully unobstructed, unless the City Engineer approves otherwise, and all dining occupancy must follow the City's Sidewalk Dining and Parklets Handbook. Noise from a sidewalk dining area must comply with the Chapter 8.80 noise ordinance, and logged noise complaints can be grounds for the Director of Public Works to suspend, cancel or decline to renew the permit (§ 14.14.045(D)). Permittees pay an annual fee plus a security deposit under § 14.14.035, applied against any damage to the sidewalk or its fixtures.
Violations & Fines
Occupying a Long Beach public sidewalk with dining furniture without a § 14.14.020 permit is itself a violation, and an existing permit can be suspended or canceled at the discretion of the Director of Public Works if the obstruction interferes with street work, cleaning, or public safety, or by the City Engineer or Fire Marshal on a safety finding (§ 14.14.020(C)). Repeated noise complaints logged against a sidewalk dining permit are separate grounds for suspension, cancellation or nonrenewal under § 14.14.045(D).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to put tables on the sidewalk outside my Long Beach restaurant?
How wide does the sidewalk have to stay?
How tall can the dining enclosure be?
How long does a sidewalk dining permit last?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Long Beach
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