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Free outdoor dining permits for Seattle businesses

by on May 22, 2026
People eat outdoors at Japonessa Sushi Cocina, a restaurant in downtown Seattle. SDOT is partnering with the Office of Economic Development to offer additional permitting support this summer, including free outdoor dining permits for businesses who qualify. Photo: Brian Chu for SDOT

Seattle business owners who want to try outdoor dining can get extra help this summer and fall.

The first 100 Seasonal Café permits submitted by businesses and issued by us will have their permit fees covered by the Office of Economic Development.

This program runs through October and is a partnership between us and the Office of Economic Development. It is designed to help businesses explore sidewalk or curb space outdoor dining with less cost and less confusion.

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What to know

If you want to add outdoor dining next to your business, this opportunity may help. Here are the key details:

  • The program runs through October.
  • The first 100 Seasonal Café permits submitted by businesses and issued by us will have permit fees paid for by the Office of Economic Development.
  • Support is available for sidewalk cafés and curb space cafés.
  • We are also offering help with the permit process.
  • Not every location will qualify for a café permit.

If you are interested, contact us at publicspace@seattle.gov for help. You can learn more on the Seattle outdoor dining permit web page.

Why it may be worth exploring

Outdoor dining can give your business more room to serve customers and make your storefront more visible during the busy spring, summer, and fall months.

This program lowers the cost for a limited number of businesses and offers support along the way. That can make it easier to test outdoor seating before making a bigger investment.

Four people, two at each table, sit at an outdoor table outside a dark, modern restaurant, separated from the sidewalk by a black metal fence. Through a large open window behind them, more people are seen sitting inside the dimly lit interior.
People sit outside at RIDER, a restaurant in Seattle. Businesses can apply for an outdoor dining permit on our website. Photo: Brian Chu for SDOT

How support works

We can help businesses understand the permit process, review site conditions, and explain what may be needed for an application.

Each location is different. Sidewalk width, curb space conditions, and other safety factors will affect whether a site can support outdoor dining. Some locations will qualify, and some will not.

If you are not sure whether your space may work, we encourage you to reach out early.

How to get started

If you are interested in outdoor dining, email publicspace@seattle.gov. We can help answer questions, talk through your location, and explain next steps.

You can also learn more on the Seattle outdoor dining permit web page.

Because free permits are limited to the first 100 issued permits, businesses should apply as soon as possible.

A group of people sits together at an outdoor restaurant patio while several pedestrians pass by on the sidewalk in front of them. The dark awnings and black exterior frame the scene, with bright sunlight casting strong shadows across the street.
A group of people sit outdoors at the Seattle restaurant Ben Paris in Seattle as others walk past them on the sidewalk. Photo: Brian Chu for SDOT

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