Lincoln's vibrant dining scene thrives when local restaurants and bars have opportunities to welcome guests outdoors. The City of Lincoln supports this effort by offering a straightforward permitting process for businesses interested in creating or continuing sidewalk cafés.
This page provides direct access to everything you need. You can apply for a new sidewalk café permit, renew an existing one, or consult the sidewalk café guidebook for helpful information as you plan your space. Each resource is designed to give you clear direction and make the process as smooth as possible.
Whether you are just beginning to explore the idea or preparing to update an established café, these tools will help you navigate each step and create an outdoor dining area that enhances the experience of your customers and the community.
Check out our guide to help Lincoln businesses develop and maintain sidewalk cafés!
Sidewalk Café Guidebook(PDF, 13MB)