St. Johns County, FL Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- LDC § 3.10.05.K, Use of Public Right-of-Way
- Applies to
- Vilano Beach Town Center Overlay District
- Must pair with
- Legally established restaurant or takeout food store
- Adjacent business
- Written permission required before extending frontage
- Pedestrian clearance
- Minimum 5-foot clear path required
- Storm rule
- Furniture secured indoors above 30 mph sustained winds
Summary
Within the Vilano Beach Town Center Overlay District, a sidewalk cafe may open only alongside a legally established restaurant or takeout food store that prepares food on site. Section 3.10.05.K requires written permission from any adjacent business before extending tables in front of it, a 5-foot clear pedestrian path, and furniture secured indoors once a hurricane or tropical storm warning is issued.
1. Sidewalk Café: ... A sidewalk café is a group of tables and chairs and permitted decorative and accessory devices situated and maintained upon the sidewalk and used for the consumption of food and beverages sold to the public from an adjoining business. A sidewalk café is allowed only when in compliance with this Section. 2. A sidewalk café shall only be established in conjunction with a legally established restaurant and/or takeout food store, where the food product is prepared processed, or assembled on the premises (for example: deli, ice cream store, sandwich shop, coffee shop). ... 4. ... A sidewalk café may only be established in front of the business and such businesses immediately adjacent to the business with which the sidewalk café is associated. The sidewalk café operator must receive the permission, in a form acceptable to the County, from adjacent businesses before establishing the sidewalk café in front of such adjacent businesses. ... 6. ... A clear pathway, parallel with the street, with a minimum width of 5 feet shall be provided for the comfortable movement of pedestrians.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
K, Use of the Public Right-of-Way, sits inside the Site Development Criteria that Growth Management applies to the Vilano Beach Town Center (VBTC) Overlay District, the mixed-use corridor along Vilano Road, Coastal Highway and Poplar Avenue in unincorporated St. Johns County. A sidewalk cafe is defined as tables, chairs and permitted decorative or accessory devices placed on the sidewalk for consuming food and drink sold by an adjoining business, and it is allowed only in compliance with this section. It must be tied to a legally established restaurant or takeout food store where food is prepared, processed or assembled on site, such as a deli, ice cream store, sandwich shop or coffee shop; a retail shop with no food preparation does not qualify.
A cafe may extend in front of businesses immediately adjacent to its host business only after the operator obtains permission, in a form the County accepts, from each of those adjacent businesses. Alcohol may be served if properly permitted by the State and County. Operators must keep a 5-foot clear pedestrian path parallel to the street and a separate 5-foot clearance from any alley, crosswalk, fire hydrant or similar fixture. Hours may match the associated business. Furniture must stay clean and in good repair, the sidewalk must be swept of debris during the day and again at closing, and nothing may be chained or bolted to trees, posts, signs or the sidewalk itself.
During any National Weather Service tropical storm or hurricane warning, or whenever sustained winds are expected to exceed 30 mph, all tables, chairs, umbrellas and table signs must be moved indoors and secured.
Violations & Fines
Compliance with Section 3.10.05.K is the condition of the sidewalk cafe use itself: it is allowed only when it satisfies the section. Operating without the required written permission from an adjacent business, blocking the 5-foot pedestrian path or fixture clearance, or leaving furniture outdoors unsecured after a hurricane or tropical storm warning is issued puts the use out of compliance. Growth Management enforces the standard through site plan review and inspection and can require removal of the nonconforming seating or furniture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any business in Vilano Beach set up a sidewalk cafe?
Do I need permission to place tables in front of my neighbor's storefront?
How much sidewalk space must stay clear for pedestrians?
What happens to cafe furniture during a hurricane?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Johns County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare St. Johns County to another location·View the Florida special events & permits overview
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