Mesa, AZ Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)

Under § 11-31-19, an Outdoor Eating Area attached to an Eating and Drinking Establishment must be located within the buildable area of the lot, or, in the Downtown Core and Form Based Code Transect Districts, may sit within the right-of-way on a public sidewalk as long as a contiguous 6-foot-wide strip stays clear for pedestrians, subject to an encroachment permit from the City Engineer. In other zoning districts, an outdoor eating area may encroach up to half the depth of a street-side landscape yard and into the required foundation base area, provided a 5-foot pedestrian walkway remains unobstructed.

Subsection C governs barriers meant to demarcate the eating area for both temporary and permanent setups: barriers are mandatory once an outdoor eating area exceeds four tables or eight seats, or whenever alcohol is served, and where a barrier sits within the right-of-way or the required front setback it can't exceed 42 inches in height. Barrier materials must be durable and high-quality, complement the building's architecture, and follow any area design guidelines, while chain link fencing, chicken wire, cyclone fencing, sway ropes, fabric, and canvas are all expressly prohibited as barrier materials.

Fixtures such as furniture, umbrellas, heaters, and awnings can't project beyond the barrier or into the pedestrian walkway, and any permanent, attached shade structure must be secured in compliance with the Mesa Building Code, Title 4. Trash receptacles serving the area must comply with § 11-30-12 and generally can't sit in the right-of-way, and any signage must follow the Mesa Sign Ordinance and stay out of the right-of-way per § 11-45-1.