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

Sec. 15-100 gives the department of inspectional services jurisdiction over outdoor cafes on city right-of-way, while the New Bedford Licensing Board and the Massachusetts ABCC regulate cafes that serve alcohol. No one may construct, maintain, use or operate an outdoor cafe without a permit: the applicant submits a completed application, the annual fee, proof of insurance, and required information, and the commissioner reviews it for completeness. If complete, the commissioner secures administrative sign-off from public infrastructure, planning/housing/community development, health, police and fire within 45 business days and issues a determination within 60 business days of the completed submittal.

Only a holder of a common victualer license qualifies, and the cafe must be temporary, contiguous to the licensed restaurant, and removable on the city's demand even mid-term. At least four feet of unimpeded sidewalk passageway must remain (more if the city requires it for pedestrian traffic at certain times), and cafes in a Historic District need a certificate of appropriateness from the Historical Commission first. Alcohol service requires separate licensing board and ABCC approval plus a physical enclosure separating the seating from the walkway; smoking is barred in the cafe area, and all outdoor activity must end by close of business or midnight, whichever is earlier. The license runs annually, expiring December 31, and requires commercial general liability insurance naming the city as additional insured.