Winston-Salem, NC Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)
Key Facts
- Application fee
- $100.00
- Renewal fee
- $25.00 per year
- Seating cap
- 50% of interior seating
- Eligible zoning
- central business or pedestrian business only
- Operating hours
- 6 a.m.–1 a.m. (2 a.m. Thu–Sat)
Summary
Winston-Salem requires restaurants to get a sidewalk cafe permit before extending dining onto a sidewalk, restricts the use to central business or pedestrian business zoning districts, and caps sidewalk seating at 50 percent of indoor capacity.
No restaurant may extend its dining operations into a sidewalk or pedestrian way without first obtaining a permit therefor in accordance with the requirements of this article. ... The restaurant to which the sidewalk cafe is associated must be located within the central business or pedestrian business zoning districts. ... The seating capacity of the sidewalk cafe may not constitute more than 50 percent of the interior seating capacity of the restaurant.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 102 | Personnel: Supplement 96 | Water and Sewer: Supplement 56 | Solid Waste: Supplement 15).
Full Breakdown
Restaurants that want to serve on the sidewalk must file a sidewalk cafe permit application with the office of business inclusion and advancement, including a site plan, insurance certificate, and a $100 fee. The restaurant must sit in the central business or pedestrian business zoning district, keep sidewalk seating at or under 50 percent of interior seating, and leave five feet of unobstructed sidewalk for pedestrians. Sidewalk cafes may operate 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday, and 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and North Carolina state holidays. Permits run for one calendar year and can be renewed up to three times for a $25 renewal fee each time before a new application is required.
Violations & Fines
Operating a sidewalk cafe without a permit, exceeding the 50 percent seating cap, or blocking the required five-foot pedestrian path is a class 3 misdemeanor under G.S. 14-4, punishable by a fine of up to $500.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any Winston-Salem restaurant open a sidewalk cafe?
How much sidewalk seating is allowed?
How long does a sidewalk cafe permit last?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Winston-Salem
Compare Winston-Salem to another location·View the North Carolina special events & permits overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.