Medford, MA Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)

Article VIII, Outdoor Dining Licenses, was rewritten in its entirety by Ordinance No. 883, adopted June 6, 2023, replacing the prior article that had run since 2010. Under Sec. 14-482, the building commissioner may issue annual outdoor dining licenses covering the period from March 1 to October 31; a license lasts one season and must be reapplied for every year, and the article applies specifically to sidewalks and other property under city jurisdiction, not to private property. Section 14-483 defines 'sidewalk seating' as public street seating located on a paved surface intended for and accessible to pedestrians, distinguishing it from parklet seating, which sits in the roadway, and from private outdoor dining, which needs no license at all.

Applications go to the building department under Sec. 14-485 and, once complete, are circulated to the mayor's office, DPW, the health department, engineering, the fire department, the parking clerk's office, the police department, and the office of planning, development and sustainability for comment. A complete application requires a worker's compensation affidavit, a certificate naming the city as additional insured, proof of a current dumpster permit and pest control coverage, and a scaled site plan showing furniture, fencing, umbrellas and the width of sidewalk left for pedestrian and wheelchair passage.

Section 14-487 sets minimum liability coverage of $2,000,000.00 per occurrence and $4,000,000.00 in aggregate. Licenses are not transferable, and the building commissioner may impose conditions or require a resubmitted application instead of a renewal if street redesign, code changes or enforcement problems warrant it.