Operational guidelines.

Tampa City Code § 22-227

in effect

Sec. 22-227. - Operational guidelines. (a) Location requirements. (1) The width of the sidewalk café is restricted as follows: a. The width shall not exceed the width of the sidewalk frontage of the subject property. However, the area of the permit may be extended up to a maximum of fifty (50) feet on one (1) side of the subject location, subject to the provisions of subsection b. of this section. b. An applicant for a sidewalk café permit may be permitted to extend by a maximum of fifty (50) contiguous feet in the public right-of-way on one (1) side and/or the other side of the applicant's property so long as the applicants property abuts the public right-of-way. In order for the subject area of the permit to extend to a public right-of-way in front of an adjacent owner's property, the applicant must obtain: i. Written permission (notarized) for use of such area from the adjacent property owner(s) for a minimum period of one (1) year. ii. Such permission shall at all times take into consideration applicable federal, state and local accessibility and safety requirements. If at any time such permission is revoked or suspended, there will be no refund granted to the permittee of the annual permit fee or any other fees paid to the city for operation of a sidewalk café. iii. The party revoking or suspending such permission shall have a continuing duty to inform the city, in writing, of the revocation: upon receipt of said notice the area of the permit shall be automatically constricted to exclude the area subject of the revocation. iv. In the event the extended area includes consent from more than one (1) adjacent owner, and the revocation by one (1) owner will result in breaking the contiguous quality of the sidewalk café area, then that entire side of the sidewalk café shall constrict to the permittee's property boundary, regardless of the continuing consent of the other property owner(s) on the affected side or reinstatement of consent by the original revoking party. (2) A clearly marked, unobstructed, and durable pedestrian right-of-way, also known as the "pedestrian path", that meets required accessibility standards, of no less than four (4) feet shall be maintained for each sidewalk café area and shall be reviewed by the transportation manager or designee or their designee to determine the appropriate width based on the existing and projected pedestrian demand, and shall adhere to the following standards: a. The minimum distance of said path shall be measured from the portion of the sidewalk and street café boundary which is nearest either the curb line or the nearest obstruction. b. In no event may recesses in the sidewalk and street café boundary be used to satisfy this unobstructed width requirement for said path, except that the corners of the sidewalk café may be rounded or mitered. c. Sidewalk cafés shall maintain a clearance of four (4) feet around the corners of other sidewalk cafés measured in radius. (3) The pedestrian path shall maintain a minimum of four (4) feet from large obstructions. No tables, or chairs, umbrellas or other fixtures shall be permitted within four (4) feet of a pedestrian crosswalk or corner curb cut. For the purposes of this section, large obstructions shall be bus stops shelters, newsstands, existing planters or any other object greater than fifteen (15) square feet in area. (4) Access to fire hydrants, fire hose connections for sprinkler systems, and entrances and exits of all buildings shall not be obstructed at any time by barriers or seating. The twenty (20) feet fire lane shall not be obstructed at any time. There shall be a minimum of forty (40) inches in distance separating the edge of a table or chair to a fire department connection. (5) No object shall be permitted around the perimeter of an area occupied by tables and chairs which would have the effect of forming a physical or visual barrier discouraging the free use of the tables and chairs by the general public or which would have the effect of obstructing the pedestrian path. (6) The operational hours of the café may be restricted, based on the location and area conditions, and shall be determined by the transportation manager or designee through the permitting process and consultation with the transportation division, when necessary. (b) Construction; signage; maintenance and umbrella—Requirements. (1) Appropriate lighting of the sidewalk café is required. (2) Use of landscaping and planters is permissible. (3) All signage must be in compliance with this Code. Signs are prohibited on umbrellas, chairs, tables and other permissible fixtures which are located on the public right-of-way, except that the establishment identified on the permit and/or its logo shall be permitted on umbrellas. (4) Use of removable barriers to define the sidewalk café is permissible. (5) No heating, cooking or open flames are permitted in the sidewalk and street café. However, space heaters are permitted provided that they are an outdoor approved type, are located in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, and are located at least two (2) feet from the edge of any umbrella canvas, any foliage, or any other flammable object or material. (6) No food preparation, plastic food displays, food storage, or refrigeration apparatus shall be allowed on the public right-of-way. Alternatives may be considered but must be clearly shown on the plan, per section 22-224. (7) Umbrellas and other decorative material shall be fire-retardant, pressure-treated or manufactured of fire-resistant material. No portion of an umbrella shall be less than six (6) feet, eight (8) inches (eighty (80) inches) above the sidewalk. (8) Sidewalk and street café seating shall be counted in determining the requirements for parking and bathroom facilities of the subject establishment. (Ord. No. 92-45, § 4, 4-2-92; Ord. No. 2001-210, § 1, 9-13-01; Ord. No. 2005-306, § 6, 11-10-05; Ord. No. 2009-174, § 4, 12-3-09; Ord. No. 2013-66, § 5, 5-16-2013; Ord. No. 2022-108, § 6, 6-16-2022)

Source: City of Tampa, Code of Ordinances and Charter and Related Laws (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/fl/tampa/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH22STSI_ARTIADPR_DIV3FEAUTYPEIN_SDIXSICA_S22-227OPGUFetched: 10/28/2026