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

City Code § 30-9.1 lets the city manager issue outdoor dining permits authorizing placement of easily movable items such as tables, chairs, planters, trash receptacles, barriers and chains on designated portions of public sidewalks, on rights-of-way that city council has closed to vehicular traffic during the applicable hours, and on other public property. Only businesses that own or lease property in the city and hold a state department of health license to serve food from that property, called the permittee's premises in the ordinance, can apply, and the designated outdoor area must be in close proximity to those premises; if it does not directly adjoin the premises, the permittee also needs the written consent of whoever owns or leases the adjoining private property.

Every outdoor dining permit is revocable with or without cause at the city manager's discretion, and upon revocation the city manager can physically remove and dispose of any furniture left in the right-of-way. Getting the permit requires the applicant to indemnify and hold the city harmless for claims arising from the outdoor dining operation and to maintain general liability insurance naming the city as an additional insured in an amount of at least $1,000,000, with a current certificate filed with the city's risk manager and 30 days' written notice required before the policy can be cancelled. Permits are not transferable, applications go on city-provided forms, and the application and annual permit fees are set by the city manager and published in the city's fee compendium. In deciding whether to grant a permit, the city manager weighs whether the outdoor dining will promote the general welfare and economy of the city and whether it will unreasonably interfere with pedestrian or vehicle traffic or otherwise threaten public health, safety and welfare.