Murfreesboro, TN Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- City- or State-issued license
- Recognized permit type
- Sidewalk cafe license
- Applies to
- Sidewalks, streets, rights-of-way, parks
- Penalty
- Civil offense under § 1-8
Summary
Restaurants serving alcohol on a Murfreesboro sidewalk need a City-issued permit or license: open-container service outdoors is illegal without one, and sidewalk cafe licenses are the specific permit type the code names.
It shall be unlawful for any person to serve, possess or consume beer, wine or other alcoholic beverage in any open container in or on any public street, sidewalk, right of way, park, school ground, or other public place or property unless said service, possession or consumption is specifically authorized by a permit or license issued by the City or State. These include but are not limited to licenses for sidewalk cafes and Special Event permits.(B)No business engaged in the retail sale of beer, wine, or other alcoholic beverage, whether for on- or off-premises consumption, shall permit a customer to exit the business's premises with an open container of beer onto any public street, sidewalk, right of way, park, school ground, or other public place or property unless such possession or consumption of beer is specifically authorized by a permit or license issued by the City or State. (Ord. No. 16-O-17 § 13, 05-12-16)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 18 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Murfreesboro Code § 4-91(A) makes it unlawful to serve, possess, or consume beer, wine, or other alcohol in an open container on any public street, sidewalk, right-of-way, park, or other public place unless a City- or State-issued permit or license specifically authorizes it: the ordinance names sidewalk cafe licenses and Special Event permits as the two recognized types. A restaurant that wants to pour drinks for diners seated on the sidewalk must hold that license before opening an outdoor bar service; serving without one is a civil offense under § 4-93, punishable per City Code § 1-8.
Violations & Fines
Serving, possessing, or consuming alcohol in an open container on a public sidewalk without a sidewalk cafe license or Special Event permit is a civil offense punishable under City Code § 1-8, per § 4-93.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Murfreesboro restaurant serve alcohol to diners seated outside on the sidewalk?
What permits does Murfreesboro's open-container law recognize for outdoor alcohol service?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Murfreesboro
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