General Guidance
Sidewalk tables and chairs facilitate residents coming together outdoors to dine, meet and rest (and add eyes to your streets). As a tool for placemakers, tables and chairs add instant street life, under the right conditions.
Below provides guidance for bringing tables and chairs to the streets by a restauranteur, neighborhood group or resident. Note that in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, streamlined permitting may be available. For all outdoor furnishings, remember to purchase tables and chairs appropriate for inclement weather, ensure sufficient staffing is available for daily deployment and oversight for moveable furnishings and prepare a maintenance, repair and replacement plan.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City has created new and more streamlined permits related to seating. Click here for information about how street space, sidewalks, and parking lanes can be used for seating as part of business operations.
Permits + Permission
Tables + Chairs Location | Permissions / Permitting / Process |
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Restaurant Tables and Seating |
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Sidewalk Benches + Seating (fronting property owners) |
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Sidewalk Benches + Seating (commercial corridors) | Along commercial streets, streetscape furnishings are often managed by Community Benefit Districts (CBD) – contact the managing CBD to request additional furnishings and learn more about potential streetscape design projects that may include future installation of tables and chairs. |
Plazas | Rules and regulations for deploying tables and chairs varies by plaza location / owner. Refer to the Permit Summary by Location table to determine the correct jurisdiction to contact. |