Happening Now

Temporary Outside Dining Registration

The City of Charlotte has developed Temporary Outdoor Dining Guidelines to assist restaurant businesses during the State of North Carolina Phase 2 – easing of restrictions. The guidelines allow for restaurants to utilize parking spaces and extra sidewalk/street space for temporary outdoor dining conversion.

Restaurants with dedicated parking may convert up to 25% of parking spaces to temporary outdoor dining. This could allow for more dining capacity while complying with the City of Charlotte Zoning Ordinance and Governor Cooper’s phase 2 requirements. There is no permit fee to enter the program. This program will be available for 90 days starting May 22, 2020, or until the full lifting of Governor Roy Cooper’s phased reopening, whichever is sooner. Restaurants are required to register temporary outdoor dining with the City of Charlotte and comply with the requirements outlined in the Temporary Outdoor Dining Guidelines.

Register for Temporary Outdoor Dining

Temporary outdoor dining must comply with the City of Charlotte Noise Ordinance, and not be in use during the hours of 11 p.m. through 8 a.m. All temporary dining is required to be inspected by the Fire marshal. Restaurants may contact the Fire Marshal to schedule an inspection at  ​704.336.8374.

Restaurants will also be able to expand sidewalk dining during this period without a permit fee as long as certain pedestrian safety measures and ordinance standards are met. In the coming days, a Streateries Pilot Program toolkit will be available for restaurants to utilize on-street parking spaces and excess pavement for outdoor dining. Restaurant owners with questions about the Streateries Pilot program can email outdoordining@charlottenc.gov.