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Wausau, WI Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Permit needed for: Outdoor dining in the public right-of-way
Eligible business: Full-service restaurant, >50% food sales
Permit term: July 1 to following June 30
Operating hours: 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Penalty: $50.00-$500.00 per day, per violation

Summary

A full-service Wausau restaurant needs a Public Health and Safety Committee permit before setting up an outdoor sidewalk cafe in the public right-of-way. Permits run July 1 to June 30, and cafes must close by 10:00 p.m. and stay off the sidewalk before 6:00 a.m.

5.65.030 - Permit required.(a)It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to erect, place, maintain, or operate on any public street or sidewalk or in any other public way any sidewalk café without first having obtained a permit from the Public Health and Safety Committee of the Wausau Common Council.(b)Each permit shall be effective for one year from July 1 until the following June 30.(c)The permit issued may be transferred to a new owner only for the location and area listed in the permit. ... 5.65.060 - Sidewalk café standards. ... (m)Sidewalk cafés shall not operate after 10:00 p.m. or before 6:00 a.m.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12 Update 2).

Full Breakdown

030(a) makes it unlawful to erect, place, maintain or operate a sidewalk cafe on a public street, sidewalk or other public way without a permit from the Public Health and Safety Committee of the Wausau Common Council. 020). 030(c)). 040(a)). 060(n)). 060(m)). 070(a)).

Violations & Fines

A sidewalk cafe permit may be revoked, suspended or non-renewed by the Public Health and Safety Committee for a violation of City ordinance or state or federal law, after a hearing on at least three days' written notice (§ 5.65.100(b)), and the Director of Public Works may order an immediate temporary suspension or removal if the cafe threatens public safety (§ 5.65.100(a)). Section 5.65.120 sets the penalty at a forfeiture of not less than $50.00 nor more than $500.00 per day for each violation, plus costs of prosecution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Wausau restaurants need a permit for sidewalk dining?

Yes. Section 5.65.030(a) makes it unlawful to erect, place, maintain or operate a sidewalk cafe on a public street, sidewalk or right-of-way without a permit from the Public Health and Safety Committee.

What hours can a Wausau sidewalk cafe stay open?

Section 5.65.060(m) bars sidewalk cafes from operating after 10:00 p.m. or before 6:00 a.m., and non-canopy furniture must be removed nightly under § 5.65.060(n).

Which businesses qualify for a Wausau sidewalk cafe permit?

Only a full-service restaurant, defined by § 5.65.020 as an establishment holding a State of Wisconsin restaurant license whose food sales exceed 50 percent of its gross receipts.

How long does a Wausau sidewalk cafe permit last?

Each permit runs on a fixed annual cycle from July 1 through the following June 30, per § 5.65.030(b), and can be transferred to a new owner only for the remainder of that term.

Sources & Official References

[1]Wausau Municipal Code § 5.65

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