Apply for a Sidewalk Cafe Permit

Permits are required for outdoor seating in the city's public right-of-way.

Sidewalk Cafe Requirements

Ensure that the cafe meets the sidewalk cafe conditions.

Insurance

When applying for the permit, you will need to provide a certificate of liability insurance. The insurance must be for $1,000,000 and the City of St. Louis must be listed as additional insured. View the insurance specifications.

Application Information

Information that you will need for the application:

1. Legal name, address, phone number and email address of your business
2. Your legal name, address, phone number and email address
3. Answers to the following questions:
   • Number of patrons designed to accommodate
   • Start time
   • Closing time
   • Maximum capacity?
   • How many tables and chairs?
   • Will business be selling liquor?
4. Documents to attach to the application:
   • Drawing of the cafe
   • Occupancy permit
   • Certificate of insurance

We accept .gif, .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .tiff, .bmp, .pdf, .txt, .rtf, .csv, .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx or .zip files under 50 MB.

Use the Begin Online button to start your application.

Begin online

The fee for the Sidewalk Cafe permit is $200.00, plus $1.00 per square foot of sidewalk being utilized for the cafe. Payment may be made in person to the City of St. Louis Street Department, located at 1900 Hampton Ave.

You will receive an e-mail confirmation of the application at the point of contact email you provided. The confirmation e-mail will also include instructions to check the status of your application.

The application will be referred to the Streets Department for review.

If more information is needed, you will be contacted. The application review process generally takes two to three weeks.

Once the application is reviewed and comments have been satisfied, you will be notified that the application is being referred to the next meeting of the Board of Public Service for final approval.

Before the permit is issued, you must submit payment to the Street Department for the sidewalk seating and file written acceptance of the sidewalk conditions with the Secretary of the Board of Public Service.

Once the permit is issued, installation of your sidewalk cafe can begin.

You must maintain insurance yearly as long as the cafe is in place.

Any changes will require you to resubmit the application and all attachments.

For information about permits, please contact Michele Knox at knoxm@stlouis-mo.gov, (314) 622-4627.