Outdoor dining
Outdoor dining on streets is key to vibrant, active streetscapes and is supported by Inner West Council.
Restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs, small bars, breweries, and other food and drink businesses can apply to Council for the use of footpaths, and in some cases, kerbside parking spaces for outdoor dining purposes.
How to apply
Complete the Outdoor dining and footpath trading license application (PDF 202.4KB) and submit it to Council through our online self-service portal using the Apply button below.
Ensure “Footpath trading – general inquiry” is selected from the drop down menu. You will be able to upload your completed application form, site plan and other relevant attachments here.
Apply
Temporary use of kerbside parking spaces for outdoor dining
Council has recently extended this program for a further 12 months to July 2024.
To support businesses at this time, Council has developed Interim outdoor dining guidelines (PDF 355.1KB) for outdoor dining areas on streets, both on the footpath and temporarily within kerbside parking spaces. Situations where kerbside road space can be temporarily utilised for outdoor dining are identified in these guidelines.
Please utilise the existing footpath trading form to submit an application for the use of kerbside road space. The requirements for submission are listed in the interim guidelines. Information required in the guidelines such as a site plan, or evidence of coordination with a neighbouring food and drink businesses, can be submitted as attachments in the online self-service portal.
Liquor licence boundary changes associated with outdoor dining
If your premises has a liquor licence, you will need to temporarily change the boundaries on your licence in order to serve alcohol in an outdoor dining area.
Please submit the Liquor Licence application: temporary change of boundaries form (PDF 199.2KB)with your outdoor dining application and Council will refer this to Liquor and Gaming.
Relevant links and forms
• Interim outdoor dining guidelines (PDF 355.1KB)
• Outdoor dining and footpath trading license application (PDF 202.4KB)
• Temporary liquor licence change of boundary form (PDF 199.2KB)
• Online self-service portal (use “Footpath trading – general inquiry” for all outdoor dining applications and inquiries)