Outdoor Cafe Seating Permit & Inspection Process
Outdoor cafe seating requires a public Right-of-Way permit if any portion of seating or serving areas are within the public right-of-way. The permit will ensure compliance with Montgomery County’s requirements for outdoor cafe seating to maintain adequate pedestrian movement and accessibility for those with physical disabilities. It also protects both public and private properties while facilitating the use of outdoor cafes.
If you wish to install Curbside Cafe Seating as part of the pilot program in the Wheaton Urban District, reference the Curbside Cafe Seating Guidelines and follow the process outlined in the Checklist. Once you have collected written support from adjacent businesses and the Wheaton Urban District, you should then contact the Montgomery County Department of Transportation to approve the site location.
If liquor will be served in the proposed outdoor café seating area, a license from Alcohol Beverage Services is required.
Plan submittal requirements must be in accordance with the Outdoor Cafe Seating Guidelines.
The outdoor café seating plan review will take approximately 2-3 weeks for each review cycle. Once the review is completed and plans are approved by DPS, the permit will be issued.