Pismo Beach, CA Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)

Section 12.32.140 of the Pismo Beach Municipal Code lets the Director approve an encroachment permit for a sidewalk cafe. Section 12.32.015 defines the cafe as a group of tables and chairs, with authorized decorative and accessory devices, kept in whole or in part on the public sidewalk or other right-of-way for consuming food and beverages sold from an adjoining indoor retail food establishment. The applicant must hold a valid city business license and any necessary county health permits, the use must be proper under the city's land use regulations, and a site plan must show the operation relative to surrounding buildings, parking lots and public rights-of-way.

The layout limits are specific. Personal property on the sidewalk cannot extend further along the sidewalk than the exterior limits of the merchant's place of business, and a minimum sidewalk width of five feet stays clear of any obstruction at all times. Outdoor preparation of food and bussing facilities are prohibited. All furniture and fixtures, including tables, chairs, umbrellas and planters, must be movable, and the tables and chairs must be fixed so that only the permittee can move them for cleaning, storing or removal as directed by the city. The Director approves the specific table and chair unit. Umbrellas need a base of not less than sixty pounds and cannot reach into the clear sidewalk area. The permit defines the hours of operation, all furniture comes indoors whenever the cafe is closed, and trash cannot be stored in the right-of-way.

The permit lasts a maximum of one year, and the Director can authorize one-year extensions. The Director can ask the City Council for a public hearing when conditions need revising or the permit needs revoking. Under subsection D the permittee must carry the insurance required by § 12.32.120, in a form and limits satisfactory to the city manager or designee, with an original endorsement specifying thirty-day cancellation notice. Temporary sidewalk sales are a separate permit under § 17.121.140.