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.
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. Learn more about applying for a curb lane café.
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:
A patio heater is an outdoor heating appliance that is used to generate thermal radiation:
If you are requesting the use of Heater(s) – Propane for your Sidewalk Café, please submit a declaration with your application and ensure the portable propane heater is:
Once approved, this is added as an Endorsement to the Sidewalk Cafe permit.
If you are requesting the use of Lighting within the Café area (frontage at the building wall only), please submit a declaration with your application.
Once approved, this is added as an Endorsement to the Sidewalk Café permit.
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.
Upload Documents for Existing Request
In-person services are available at the Licence and Permit Issuing Office, 850 Coxwell Avenue, 3rd Floor.
You must bring hard copies of all application requirements. Applications will not be started unless all requirements are provided. Digital copies of documents will not be accepted.
Payment can only be made by debit, credit or cheque. Cash will not be accepted.
Walk-in services are available once a week.
Please contact MLSroadallowance@toronto.ca for the next weekday availability.
Please note office hours:
Monday – Friday 8:30am-12:30pm and 1:30-4:00pm.
The office is closed from 12:30–1:30pm daily.
Appointment services are available. Please contact MLSroadallowance@toronto.ca.
Please arrive 10-15 mins early to check in and be on time for your appointment or you may be turned away and asked to re-book for another day and time, subject to availability.
The fees for sidewalk cafes, which were waived by Council between 2020 and 2022 to support the industry, will be phased in over three years with the full amount to be charged in 2025.
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 MLSroadallowance@toronto.ca.
The permit transfer fee is $676.27.
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. 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.
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.
Existing licensees must renew their licences online. 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:
