Sedona, AZ Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- SCC Chapter 5.30
- Minimum clear path
- 60 inches
- Permit term
- Jan 1 to Dec 31, annual renewal
- Furniture removal notice
- 36 hours (4 hours if emergency)
- First-level appeal window
- 5 working days to city engineer
Summary
Sedona requires a temporary encroachment permit before any business places tables or chairs on a sidewalk, with a 60-inch minimum clear pedestrian path, annual renewal, and liability insurance naming the city.
B. It shall be unlawful for any person to create, establish, operate, maintain or otherwise be engaged in the business of running an outdoor dining area or place outdoor dining area items upon the sidewalks or public property in the city unless a currently valid permit is issued and maintained under the terms of this chapter. ... ... 3. Block or restrict a paved portion of the passageway to less than 60 inches in width or block the ingress/egress to any building.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Initiative Ordinance 2026-01, approved by voters at the July 21, 2026 election).
Full Breakdown
030(B). 060 requires applicant and responsible-party contact information, a copy of the business license, proof of liability insurance naming the city as additional insured, a to-scale sketch of the layout, and photos or brochures of the proposed furniture. 060(B)-(C)). 50 SCC. 070 for lapsed insurance, uncorrected violations, or pedestrian congestion that shrinks the path below the 60-inch minimum, and a permittee has five working days to appeal to the city engineer, then five more to appeal that decision to the city manager, whose decision is final.
Violations & Fines
Operating a sidewalk dining area without a current permit is unlawful under SCC 5.30.030(B). The city engineer may deny, suspend, or revoke a permit under SCC 5.30.070(A) for lapsed insurance, uncorrected violations, unpaid sewer or license fees, or a pedestrian path narrowed below the 60-inch minimum. If furniture is not removed within 36 hours of a final removal notice (or four hours for an emergency-basis revocation), the city may remove it and charge the permittee for labor, transportation, and storage. Appeals go to the city engineer within five working days, then to the city manager within five more, whose decision is final.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Sedona require a permit for sidewalk dining?
How wide must the pedestrian path stay around Sedona sidewalk dining?
How long does a Sedona sidewalk dining permit last?
Can Sedona revoke a sidewalk dining permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sedona
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