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Orange County, FL Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Trigger
20+ linear feet of street frontage
Applies to
Village Center PD district only
Clearance
No encroachment on sidewalk corridor
Review
Seating shown on development plan

Summary

Restaurants with 20+ feet of street frontage in Orange County's Village Center PD districts may add outdoor dining, but tables, chairs, and planters can't block the sidewalk through-corridor, traffic circulation, or drainage areas.

City-specific rules exist: Orlando has its own sidewalk dining & cafés rules that differ from Orange County's county-level regulations. If you live in Orlando, check the city-specific page instead.

(7)Outside dining and seating areas are encouraged for full-service or other restaurants which possess twenty (20) linear feet or more of street frontage. Such outdoor dining and seating areas are subject to the following requirements: a. No table, chair, bench, umbrella, planter, or fencing may encroach upon the sidewalk through-corridor, on-site traffic circulation, or landscaping or drainage areas.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 128).

Full Breakdown

Sec. 38-1389(c)(7) applies within Orange County's Village Center planned-development district: full-service or other restaurants with 20 or more linear feet of street frontage may add outdoor dining and seating. Tables, chairs, benches, umbrellas, planters, and fencing cannot encroach on the sidewalk through-corridor, on-site traffic circulation, or landscaping and drainage areas, and the seating layout must be delineated on the development plan and meet current federal and state accessibility standards. This governs only the unincorporated Village Center district, not city restaurants like those in Orlando.

Violations & Fines

Development plans that fail to delineate outdoor seating limits, or layouts that encroach on the sidewalk corridor or traffic circulation, can be rejected or ordered modified before PD approval.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this apply to restaurants in Orlando?
No. Orange County's code governs only the unincorporated area; Orlando restaurants follow the city's own rules, not this county Village Center provision.
Can I fence in my outdoor patio?
Only if the fencing doesn't encroach the sidewalk through-corridor, on-site traffic circulation, or landscaping and drainage areas under Sec. 38-1389(c)(7)a.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Orange County

Park Event PermitsSome RestrictionsStreet Fair RulesSome RestrictionsParade PermitsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Aircraft NoiseFew RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Towing & Impound RightsSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesHeavy RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesHeavy Restrictions

All Orange County rules

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