Philadelphia, PA Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)

Restaurants and bars wanting year-round outdoor seating on the public sidewalk must get a sidewalk café license from the Department of Licenses and Inspections under Philadelphia Code § 9-208. The license runs for a one-year term, costs $180 annually, and requires the operator to carry liability insurance naming the City as an additional insured, post a corporate surety bond covering removal costs, and sign an indemnification agreement. Cafés are only allowed in specific mapped corridors and BIDs, must meet Department of Streets clear-sidewalk-space placement rules (at least 5 feet on narrow streets), and must be entirely removable furniture: no permanent construction. Licenses can be pulled if the café blocks a municipal project or a Streets Department temporary sidewalk closure is granted.