Sangamon County, IL Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit
- Beer Garden Permit
- Fence
- min. 8 ft, opaque
- Setback
- 20 ft from intersections
- Access
- through structure only
- Fee
- per § 5.04.080 schedule
Summary
Sangamon County liquor licensees can add a permanent outdoor drinking area only after obtaining a Beer Garden Permit and enclosing it with an eight-foot solid fence set back from intersections.
Upon application and payment of an investigation and application fee...the holder of a Class 1AA, 1BB, 1PC, 1WW or 1GG license may be issued a Beer Garden Permit...A permanent fence, not less than eight feet in height, made of wood, brick, chain privacy fence or any other similar materials, designed so that a person on either side of the fence is unable to see through the fence to the other side at any point, must enclose the whole area in which alcoholic liquors are served, poured, mixed, or consumed.
Full Breakdown
The county's liquor code lets a licensee turn an outdoor area into a permanent 'Beer Garden' once the County Liquor Commission issues a Beer Garden Permit and charges the investigation fee set in Section 5.04.080. The space must be enclosed by an opaque fence at least eight feet tall, sit at least twenty feet from any intersection, and be reachable only through the licensed building itself: no gate opening onto the sidewalk or a neighboring lot. Patrons may be served from just one bar inside it unless the licensee also buys an Additional Bar Permit.
Violations & Fines
Operating an outdoor drinking area without the permit, or breaching the fence, setback or access conditions, is a chapter violation; the Liquor Commission can suspend or revoke the permit and the base license.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for an outdoor beer garden in Sangamon County?
How tall must the fence be?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sangamon County
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