Westminster, CO Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- W.M.C. Section 11-4-17
- Maximum duration
- 180 consecutive days per 12 months
- Capacity limit
- Equal to indoor capacity reduction
- Permitting department
- Community Services Department
- General temporary use cap
- 60 days/yr (does not apply to dining)
Summary
Westminster lets restaurants add outdoor seating equal to any indoor capacity reduction under a temporary use permit, capped at 180 consecutive days per 12-month period, under Section 11-4-17.
(1)Temporary Outdoor Dining Areas: When the indoor patron capacity of a restaurant, bar, tavern, or similar establishment is either voluntarily or involuntarily reduced, a capacity amount equal to the indoor reduction may be accommodated outdoors in accordance with the provisions of this section...Temporary outdoor dining areas as described above may be issued a temporary use permit for a time period equal to the amount of time that the establishment has reduced its indoor capacity; however, no temporary outdoor dining area shall be permitted for a time period that exceeds 180 consecutive days within any 12-month period.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12).
Full Breakdown
Section 11-4-17 treats temporary outdoor dining areas as a category of temporary use on private property. When a restaurant, bar, tavern or similar establishment has its indoor patron capacity reduced, voluntarily or involuntarily, it may add an equal capacity amount outdoors under a temporary use permit. " The general sidewalk-sale exemption in Subsection (E)(2) does not apply to outdoor dining, so a permit is always required. Applicants apply to the Community Services Department with a site plan showing tables, tents, canopies, barricades, parking, trash enclosures, and any signage, and the use must not obstruct sight-visibility triangles, block accessible parking, or impede fire lanes, hydrants, or building entrances.
All Land Use and Development Review Fee Schedule fees apply, and the Planning Manager or designee can deny an application that fails to meet the conditions in Subsection (G).
Violations & Fines
Operating without a permit, or exceeding the permitted footprint, hours, or the 180-consecutive-day cap, is unlawful under Subsection (N) and subjects the operator to Title I general penalties plus civil remedies under Title IX; a permit found to be operated unsafely or unlawfully may be immediately revoked under Subsection (M), each day of violation counting as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do restaurants need a permit for outdoor dining in Westminster?
How long can a Westminster restaurant keep an outdoor dining permit?
Can the City revoke an outdoor dining permit in Westminster?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Westminster
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