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

477 covers outdoor dining uses that spill from a full-service restaurant onto the public right-of-way in commercial, industrial or parks zones. 505 before any such use may be established. 040 sets the operating standards: no permit may be granted for a use in a street or alley; dining furnishings must keep at least four feet of clearance from the curbline, street furniture or overhead utilities, and at least 50 feet from the centerline of an intersecting driveway, alley or street unless the director finds a shorter distance is safe; furnishings must be substantial, with round tables capped at three feet in diameter and rectangular tables at three feet on the long side, and everything must come indoors after hours; no additional off-street parking is required for the outdoor area; one portable sign up to 10 square feet is allowed under the director's design review; the use cannot block a neighboring business's windows or signage without that owner's written consent; and the operator must keep the area clean and carry liability insurance with a signed hold-harmless waiver satisfactory to the city risk manager. 030.