Santa Clara, CA Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)

122 (Temporary Use Permits). The section splits permit levels by seat count: a Zoning Clearance is required when an establishment provides 24 or fewer seats, while a Minor Use Permit is required for 25 seats or more. When a Minor Use Permit is required, the Director must make additional findings beyond the standard Minor Use Permit findings, including that the layout allows a continuous, ADA-compliant pedestrian path of travel that does not obstruct fire, pedestrian or wheelchair access; does not unduly interfere with sidewalk pedestrian traffic; does not block public employee or utility worker access to meters, hydrants or other street hardware; and leaves an unobstructed view of traffic devices.

General development standards apply to every outdoor dining area regardless of size: seating must occupy a fixed, approved location and cannot encroach on driveways, fire lanes, landscaped areas, parking spaces, pedestrian walkways, bicycle lanes, or required amenities such as waste receptacles or drinking fountains, and it cannot sit in the public right-of-way, required parking, drive aisles, or landscape planters. A minimum horizontal clear space of six feet of sidewalk must remain open at all times, or more if the Director of Public Works finds it necessary for pedestrian access. 42.