Sidewalk Cafe Permit

Sidewalk Café and Streatery Permit

Required by any operation that provides food to the public and operates on the public way.

TERM: April 1 through November 1 (Seasonal) or April 1 through March 31 (Year Round).

FEE: Per café components: permit fee, square footage and outside storage. 

RENEWABLE: Yes, but a complete application must be submitted each year.

TRANSFERABLE: No. If the ownership of interior business changes, the sidewalk café permit becomes invalid.

Please review Sidewalk Café Permit Application Requirements before submitting an application.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: 

Release, Indemnification & Hold Harmless Agreement - Sidewalk Café
Certificate of Insurance -Insurance Requirements
Application to Allow Dogs (if applicable)

Please Note: All documents must be signed and dated for the current permit year.

IMPORTANT: A sidewalk café is the extension of the food service operation of a licensed food establishment that operates on the public way.  The permit application is reviewed for city and health code compliance.

Renewal applications are reviewed by the Health Department. If the proposed set up of the café is not the same as the one previously approved the application will be deemed new.

• The café set up (site plan) must provide for unobstructed passage for pedestrians of a minimum width of 6 feet between the café and any fixture on the sidewalk (parking meter, lamp pole, tree, etc.)  Sidewalk Cafe Site Plan Drawing Guidelines
• All regulations concerning food safety apply.
• To receive approval from the Evanston Health Department to allow dogs in your outdoor dining area go to Dogs at Restaurant Outdoor Patios and Sidewalk Cafes for information and an application.  
• No smoking is allowed in either the sidewalk café or the interior food establishment. Smoking is also prohibited within 25 feet of an entrance to an enclosed area in which smoking is prohibited.
• No amplified music is allowed outside of a restaurant.
• The café permit and ground plan shall be conspicuously displayed on the exterior wall or window near the main entrance of the establishment during all hours of operation.

For detailed information, please refer to: Evanston City Code

Also applicable are FDA/IDPH Food Safety Codes.

The 2025 permit fees are as follows:

* Cost per square foot for the area of the public way occupied by the sidewalk  or street café as determined by the City’s Engineering Department following assessment and approval of site plan.
** For storage of tables, benches or chairs approved sidewalk café area on the city sidewalk