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

27-1, but only for restaurants, bars, and nightclubs located entirely within the MU-1, MU-2, AC-1, AC-2, AC-3, AC-3A, AC-N, or MXD-2 zoning districts. A restaurant seeking to serve food and drink on the sidewalk needs a Sidewalk Café Permit, valid for one year and renewable annually; a bar or nightclub seeking a customer-queuing ROW Utilization Area instead needs a Right-of-Way Encroachment Permit from the Public Works Director. Applications must include scaled drawings of both the interior layout and the proposed outdoor area, proof of liability insurance, proof of consent from the business operator, the proposed hours of operation, and, if alcohol will be served, a copy of the establishment's alcohol license.

Sidewalk Cafés must be pinned into the sidewalk surface by the City and can't expand beyond the pinned boundary except during a City-authorized street closure for a special event. Every approved area must leave a sidewalk clear path of at least five feet for pedestrians, measured from the furniture zone, though the Director can approve a narrower path down to the code's minimum clearances from curbs and obstructions if it remains safe. Permittees must pressure-wash the approved area, clear path, and furniture zone at least monthly and keep records on request. 10. The City may temporarily suspend a permit on five days' written notice to accommodate parades, festivals, or races.