Harford County, MD Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)

Harford County Code § 267-23C(1)(a)[8], added by Bill No. 16-020 and amended by Bill No. 19-016, lets an outdoor dining area count as a permitted encroachment into a property's required yard setback. The encroachment cannot exceed 50% of the front, side or rear yard setback that otherwise applies in the district, so a restaurant in a district with a 20-foot setback could push an outdoor dining area up to 10 feet into that setback. Seating capacity for the outdoor area is separately capped: it cannot exceed 30% of the restaurant's overall indoor seating count, or 12 seats, whichever number is larger, so a small restaurant with only a handful of indoor seats is guaranteed at least 12 outdoor seats while a larger one is held to the 30% ratio.

A printed editor's note to the subsection records that a temporary moratorium, renewed by Bill No. 22-019, waived this encroachment cap specifically for bars, breweries, nightclubs and restaurants provided fire, life-safety and Americans with Disabilities Act requirements were met, with a scheduled sunset of December 31, 2023 absent further legislative renewal; property owners should confirm with the Department of Planning and Zoning whether that waiver remains in force before relying on it. The underlying encroachment and seating limits apply regardless, and any outdoor dining layout still needs the zoning certificate required for accessory uses generally.