Richmond, VA Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)

Richmond City Code § 24-220 requires a sidewalk cafe permit before any restaurant or food-and-beverage establishment places tables, chairs, or related fixtures on a public sidewalk. The operator applies to the Director of Planning and Development Review with a scaled plan showing the cafe's layout, aisle widths, and every sidewalk feature (tree wells, hydrants, wheelchair ramps, parking meters, and more) within ten feet, plus water-closet and seating-capacity verification and photographs; the property owner must co-sign if different from the operator. 00 application and processing fee accompanies the application, and the applicant must show proof of the Section 24-62(a)(4)-(5) indemnification and insurance and have all City fees, taxes, and licenses current before the Director of Planning and Development Review and the Director of Public Works jointly approve, condition, or deny it, confirming that adequate sidewalk space remains for pedestrian circulation.

Section 24-227(b) requires a continuous, unobstructed pedestrian passageway at least five feet wide between the cafe and the curb, and Section 24-227(d) keeps cafes at least 100 feet from residentially zoned property fronting the same street, other than the R-63 district. daily, requires all furniture to be stored indoors within one hour of closing (and immediately before a severe storm warning), and bans smoking, live entertainment, and food prep for standing patrons within the cafe. 00, due by March 15.