The City of Asheville’s Outdoor Dining Program enables businesses to use adjacent public streets and sidewalks for commercial outdoor dining alongside other public realm users. The Outdoor Dining Program contributes to a vibrant, safe and economically successful environment.

The updated Outdoor Dining Program builds on the temporary AVL Shares Space initiatives launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to enable safer business operations and better public access to goods and services.

Applicants may apply for one of two types of outdoor dining permits:

• Sidewalk Dining: allows an outdoor dining area on a public sidewalk
  to be used by patrons of a contiguous and adjacent permitted business and/or by the general public outside of business hours.
• Streetery: allows an authorized structure used for outdoor dining in marked/striped on-street parking spaces to be used by patrons of a contiguous and adjacent permitted business and/or for use by the general public outside of business hours.

Outdoor dining permits are issued annually for the calendar year. Once issued, a permit is valid from the date of issuance through the subsequent December 31.

Program applications may be submitted beginning November 13, 2023. Approved permits will be effective January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023. Annual permit renewal is required to continue using the space and/or change the scope of approved outdoor dining area plans.

Before begining this permit application, click the links below to review design standards and other program requirements.

The Outdoor Dining Program Guide 
The Outdoor Dining Application Checklist
The Outdoor Dining Site Plan Checklist 

For questions, please contact the Planner of the Day at 828-259-5450 or pod@ashevillenc.gov or visit the Permit Application Center at 161 S. Charlotte St. on Monday-Friday from 8:30 am-5:00 pm (closed public holidays). 

Complete the following form to apply for a new or amended Sidewalk Dining permit. Please see The Outdoor Dining Guide for all permit terms and operational requirements.

Note: All outdoor dinings areas are required to be accessible and usable to the public outside of business hours or substantially removed outside of business hours. A $500 Public Space Use Fee will be applied for outdoor dining areas closed or unusable to the public after dining area hours of operation. More information on public vs private use requirements can be found on pg. 11 of the Outdoor Dining Program Guide.

The following items may be required for this permit application:

• Detailed site plan 
• Required outdoor dining signage (private use only)*
• Required outdoor dining signage (public and private use)*
• Certificate of Insurance (COI)
• Proof of Health Department inspection
• Proof of ABC permit (required for alcohol service)
• Storage plan** 
• Neighbor Letter of Consent (required if proposing to utilize space directly in front of another business) - template coming soon

*Download and fill out the .pdf signage template based on desired hours of operation and any public use hours and submit with your application. After the Outdoor Dining permit is approved, the applicant is responsible for sending the completed signage template to a sign fabricator using the required specifications. More info on signage requirements is available on pg. 13 of the Outdoor Dining Guide. 

**A storage plan is required if applicant is proposing to store or substantially consolidate outdoor dining elements within the permitted space after hours.

Use the buttons below to upload required application materials. Submitting an incomplete application will delay permit review and approval. 

 

Complete the following form to apply for a new or amended Streetery permit. Please see The Outdoor Dining Guide for all permit terms and operational requirements.

Note: All outdoor dining areas are encouraged to be accessible and usable to the public outside of business hours or substantially removed outside of business hours. A $500 Public Space Use Fee will be applied for outdoor dining areas closed or unusable to the public after dining area hours of operation. More information on public vs private use requirements can be found on pg. 11 of the Outdoor Dining Guide.

The following items may be required for this permit application:

• Sealed architectural drawings of streetery design
• Detailed site plan 
• Required outdoor dining signage (private use only)*
• Required outdoor dining signage (public and private use)*
• Certificate of Insurance (COI)
• Proof of Health Department inspection
• Proof of ABC permit (required for alcohol service)
• Storage Plan** 
• Neighbor Letter of Consent (required if exceeding space directly in front of business)

*Download and fill out the .pdf signage template based on desired hours of operation and any public use hours and submit with your application. After the Outdoor Dining permit is approved, the applicant is responsible for sending the completed signage template to a sign fabricator using the required specifications. More info on signage requirements is available on pg. 13 of the Outdoor Dining Guide. 

**A storage plan is required if applicant is proposing to store or substantially remove outdoor dining elements within the permitted space after hours.

Use the buttons below to upload required application materials. Submitting an incomplete application will delay permit review and approval. 

 

Complete the following form to apply for annual renewal of an existing Sidewalk or Streetery outdoor dining permit. Once issued, a permit is valid from the date of issuance through the subsequent December 31.

Please review The Outdoor Dining Guide for all permit terms and operational requirements.

Changes to the approved scope and/or design of an existing permitted outdoor dining space require approval of a new permit application. 

• Permit renewal for an existing outdoor dining space that requires changes to the approved scope and/or design will be approved with a new outdoor dining permit application and inspection by city staff.
• Permit renewal for an existing outdoor dining space that does not require changes will be approved pending inspection by city staff.

 

Click the link below to upload an up-to-date Certificate of Insurance (COI) for renewal permits that do not require substantial changes to the approved outdoor dining space.

INSURANCE
The Applicant agrees to keep and maintain for the duration of the accommodation including but not limited to commercial general liability insurance. The Applicant shall furnish the City with a certificate of insurance listing the City of Asheville, PO Box 7148, Asheville, NC 28802, as certificate holder and an additional insured under the Applicant’s general liability policy.  

In the event of bodily injury and/or property damage caused by the Applicant’s negligent acts or omissions in connection with Contractor’s services performed under this Agreement, the Applicant’s liability insurance shall be primary with respect to any other insurance which may be available to the City, regardless of how the “Other Insurance” provisions may read.

INDEMNIFICATION
The Applicant shall indemnify and hold harmless the City of Asheville and its subsidiaries, divisions, officers, directors and employees from all liabilities, losses, costs, claims, damages, expenses, attorney fees, judgments and awards that are proximately caused by the negligent acts or omissions of the Applicant or any employee, agent or assign of the Applicant.  
 
The Applicant shall comply with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The Applicant hereby agrees to indemnify the City of Asheville from and against all claims, suits, damages, costs, losses and expenses in any manner arising out of or connected with the failure of the Applicant, its subcontractors, agents, successors, assigns, officers or employees to comply with provisions of the ADA or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
 
Nothing herein shall be construed as a waiver on the part of the City of Asheville to any defense of any claim, including, but not limited to the defense of governmental immunity.