Food carts and crowds on State Street Mall.
Economic Development

Sidewalk and Roadway Cafés

If you are applying for the first time, the Street Vending Program Supervisor must meet you at the site to discuss the sidewalk café set-up. Physical circumstances must be appropriate in the space being considered before a sidewalk café application will be approved. Some requests may be denied. Once the planning stage has begun, you may speak with the Street Vending Program Supervisor as often as needed while you are developing your idea to completion. Later, the Street Vending Coordinator will make at least one more visit to the site to see the final set-up of all tables, chairs, fencing, covered waste receptacle, umbrellas, etc. If everything meets with City of Madison specifications at that time, the Street Vending Program Supervisor will approve your application with their signature.

All sidewalk café components must be removed from the sidewalk at the close of each business day or at a time determined by the Alcohol License Review Committee (ALRC).

How to Apply

  1. Meet with Staff

    If you are applying for the first time, the Street Vending Coordinator must meet you at the site to discuss the sidewalk café set-up. Physical circumstances must be appropriate in the space being considered before a sidewalk café application will be approved. Some requests may be denied.

  2. Application

    Apply Online

    • If you do not have an account already, you must create an account to fill out the application.  Be sure to check your email for the activation email from noreply@cityofmadison.com (it may be in your junk or promotions folder).
    • Once you login to your account go to the Licenses/Registrations section, select Apply for a License/Registration and then choose Sidewalk Café.
    • Attach the required documents to the application
      • Diagram of the cafe area (see below for required measurements and information).
      • Certificate of Insurance (see below for required measurements and information).
      • Images or links to all equipment for the café (approvals required). This can include color photographs, catalog pages, links, or accurate renderings of the tables, chairs, enclosures, and other allowed equipment to be used within the cafe, and their location.
      • If applying for Lateral Expansions of the Sidewalk and/or Roadway Café, you must submit a letter of permission via email or attach to your online application from the adjacent tenant and property owner/management company.

  3. Wait for Processing

    Street Vending License are processed by City staff and will take some time to fully process.

    During processing City staff may reach out with questions or issues.

  4. Invoice and Fees

    Once the license is processed, an email will be sent with a fees invoice and license information.

Was this page helpful to you? * required