Sidewalk cafés, formerly known as boulevard cafés, are outdoor eating areas located on sidewalks where food or drinks is served to the public by a licensed eating or drinking establishment.
In April 2022, City Council extended the approval for sidewalk cafes allowed by the CaféTO program in 2021, from April 14, 2022 to August 31, 2022. The permanent permitting process for sidewalk cafés has been reinstated this year, which means that businesses with a sidewalk café need to apply for a permanent sidewalk café permit to operate after their approval expires on August 31, 2022. All application, transfer and permit fees continue to be waived in 2022.
The City has been receiving a number of incomplete applications for sidewalk café permits. Please review the application requirements and submit a complete application as soon as possible to ensure that you receive your permits on time. Applications will not be processed unless all the required documents are provided.
New for 2022, café operators are now eligible for a matching grant of up to $7,500 to cover 50 per cent of the cost of eligible property or site improvements related to curb lane café installations, sidewalk cafés or patios on private property, through the CaféTO Property Improvement Program.
Sidewalk cafés that are located immediately adjacent to the front wall of the associated establishment.
Some sidewalk cafés may be located on designated local roads (i.e. residential roads). These may either be on the front (frontage) of a business located on a local street or on the side (flankage) of a corner unit.
Cafés that are located along the curb between the sidewalk and the road. Pedestrians walk between these cafés and the building frontage. Wait staff cross the pedestrian clearway to deliver food and beverages to these cafés.
A type of sidewalk café that is a temporary lateral projection into the curb lane or parking lane of a street.
Individuals, partnerships or corporations with a valid municipal business licence where food and drinks are served can apply for a sidewalk café permit.
Prior to submitting an application, please review the Sidewalk Café Application Guide which includes details on the bylaw requirements for sidewalk cafés. Please note, all measurements must be in metric.
Please submit a complete application as applications will not be processed unless all the required documents are provided.
All applications must include:
Additional supplementary materials may also be required as below.
An awning is a removable or retractable unenclosed temporary structure attached to the building wall that covers a café area. Please check with Toronto Building if your installation requires a building permit.
If you are applying for an awning for your front or side café (awnings are not permitted for curbside cafés), submit:
If you are operating a café on a local road, a visual screen is required to screen your café from the residential properties. You must submit a copy of your visual screen drawing with your application.
If the proposed café area needs to be paved, landscaped or physically altered, an application must be submitted for a Landscape Construction Permit.
If you are making changes/alterations to the building to accommodate the café installation, submit your approved Building Permit from the Buildings Division.
If you are expanding a sidewalk café in front of the neighbouring property, please submit a letter of approval from the property owner or tenant.
Applications need to be submitted online. You cannot apply for this licence/permit in-person.
You can submit application documents and complete payment in one convenient online system.
Please submit a complete application as applications will not be processed unless all the required documents are provided.
Please have all required documents ready to upload before starting the application, as it requires 10-15 minutes to complete and cannot be saved. Download a step by step guide on how to submit a new application.
If you have already submitted an application you may upload additional documents using your upload token.
The application fee has been waived for 2022.
There are no application or permit fees for small frontage cafés, which are no more than 0.8m x 5.5m and must meet pedestrian clearway of 2.1 metres.
Existing permit holders that want to transfer their permit must let potential new applicants (e.g., potential buyers or new permit holders) know that this may result in a reduced size for the permit area to meet the City’s bylaws.
For a permit transfer to be approved, it must meet the requirements set out in the application guide. For more information on permit transfers, please contact CafeTO@toronto.ca.
The café permit transfer fee has been waived for 2022.
It is expected in the future that the collection of fees associated with café operations will be resumed. The size of your permitted sidewalk café in 2022 will be used to assess any future fees. Adjusting the size of your café after your permit is issued will require a new application requirement. Please consider submitting an application for the space you intend to pay for in the future.
Processing time depends on the number of applications received and is typically between six to eight weeks. If there is incorrect or insufficient information in your submitted documents, this may extend the processing timeline.
An application will be refused if:
Prior to approval, the applicant will need to sign a permit agreement and indemnify the City. Application and permit fees have been waived for 2022. Your submitted Certificate of Insurance must be valid at the time of permit approval.
Successful applicants will receive a copy of the signed agreement, copy of the approved site plan and a permanent sidewalk café permit.
Conditions that are attached to permits issued before September 1, 2019 will continue to apply. Permit holders must also comply with the following requirements.
Your permit will expire annually on the anniversary of the date that the permit was first issued. A renewal notice, identifying any documents required to renew the permit, will be mailed to the address on file.
The renewal fee will be calculated based on a variety of factors, including where your patio will be located. The renewal fee has been waived for 2022.
Existing licensees must renew their licences online. You must continue to provide proof of $2,000,000 in Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance. The completed Certificate of Insurance must be signed and stamped by the insurer.
Please have all required documents ready to upload before starting the renewal, as it requires 10-15 minutes to complete and cannot be saved. Download a step by step guide on how to renew a licence or permit.
Upload Documents for Existing Request
Small frontage cafés are allowed without a permit. There are no associated fees with these small cafes, however they must confirm to the following conditions:
