West Des Moines, IA Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)

Section 7-1-1(C)(5) of the City Code lets a restaurant or Class 1 bar/restaurant apply for a sidewalk cafe permit only within the Valley Junction Historic Business (VJHB) District, and only on a sidewalk segment that is within the public right-of-way, directly abuts the building's property line, and is adjacent to and contiguous with the side of the building housing the restaurant. The cafe area cannot extend past the building's side property lines projected to the street and must stay at least ten feet (10') from any public alley, with a barrier of fencing, a rigid structure, or approved rope at least three feet (3') high separating the cafe from the rest of the sidewalk, and five feet (5') of clear sidewalk left for pedestrians beyond that boundary.

The season and hours in the excerpt, April 1 through November 15, and 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday or to midnight Friday and Saturday, apply on top of those spatial rules; outside that window every element must come off the sidewalk each night within thirty minutes of closing or be stacked and secured against the building. A cafe that serves alcohol needs the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division license or permit and must keep an employee monitoring the area against underage drinking and open containers leaving the service zone, and the restaurant itself must carry State or County health licensing.

Amplified music is barred without a separate sound permit, and the proprietor is responsible for repairing any damage to the public sidewalk within thirty days of the City's written notice.