Sidewalk Cafe

BID #: N/A

DUE: TBD

VALUE: $150

100

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Executive Summary

This document outlines the application process for a Sidewalk Café License issued by the City of Ocean City. Applicants must provide comprehensive details including their business and property owner information, along with a checklist of required attachments. Key requirements include written consent from the property owner(s) and first-floor business tenant, a detailed survey/site plan demonstrating compliance with dimensional standards (e.g., a 6-foot unobstructed sidewalk travel width), a signed Indemnification/Hold Harmless Agreement, and a Certificate of Insurance naming the City of Ocean City as an additional insured. An approved Mercantile License for food handling is also mandatory. A non-refundable fee of $150 is payable to the City of Ocean City upon application. The document further specifies general design standards for sidewalk cafes, addressing aspects such as fixtures, signage, lighting, awnings/umbrellas, heaters, pedestrian passageway requirements, café boundary definitions, and planter/landscaping guidelines. These standards are designed to ensure public safety, pedestrian accessibility, and aesthetic consistency within the city's public spaces. The indemnification agreement obligates the applicant to defend and indemnify the City against any claims, demands, or suits arising from the café's operation, including associated legal fees and costs.

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Document Text

--- Document: Sidewalk Cafe Document ---
CITY OF OCEAN CITY
OFFICE OF LICENSING
115 12TH STREET
OCEAN CITY, NJ 08226
609-399-6111 EXT 9701
609-525-2496 FAX
LICENSING@OCNJ.US
OCEAN CIT
APPLICATION FOR SIDEWALK CAFÉ LICENSE
Location Address:
Business Name:
Business Owner Name:
Business Phone No: (_
Business Email Address:
Property Owner Name:
Property Owner Phone No.: (____________)
CHECKLIST:
Cell Number
Block:
Lot:
Written consent of property owner(s) and the first floor business tenant if separate
from the property owner.
Survey/ Aerial Photo/ Drawing/ Site Plan: marked with dimensions to demonstrate:
Café boundary (demonstrate 6' feet of unobstructed travel width at sidewalk)
Location of proposed sidewalk café items: tables, chairs, umbrellas, etc,
Location of existing adjacent improvements and structures
Signed Indemnification/Hold Harmless Agreement (see below)
Certificate of Insurance: City of Ocean City "additional insured/ certificate holder"
Approved Mercantile License for Food Handling/ Restaurant. ML#_
Fee: $150 payable to City of Ocean City
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT FOR SIDEWALK CAFÉ LICENSE
As further agreement for the City of Ocean City to issue a Sidewalk Café License to the
applicant, the applicant agrees that he/she/it will defend and indemnify the City for and
against all claims, demands, suits injuries or harm arising out of the applicant's operation of
the boardwalk café for which the permit herein is to be issued. In the event that a suit, claim
or demand is made against the City arising out of the applicant's operation of the sidewalk
café, the applicant shall additionally agree to defend the City and pay all reasonable and
necessary counsel fees and costs related to the defense of the claim, demand or suit
asserted against the City.
Signature of Applicant:
Date:
5-18.4 General Design Standards,
a. Sidewalk cafes shall be permitted only in conjunction with and adjacent to an existing
restaurant. A sidewalk cafe may extend onto the sidewalk in front of an adjacent business with
the written consent of the property owner and the first floor business tenant if separate from
the property owner.
b. Fixtures. No furniture, apparatus, decoration or appurtenance used in connection with the
operation of the sidewalk cafe shall be located in such a way that less than six (6') feet of paved
sidewalk remains for the exclusive use of pedestrians, nor shall any such furniture, apparatus,
decoration or appurtenance project or protrude into, on or above the required pedestrian
passageway.
c. Signage. No signs are permitted on the sidewalk cafe except that the name and type of
establishment may appear on umbrellas or the valance of an awning.
d. Lighting. Adequate lighting shall be provided for the sidewalk cafe area to promote safe passage
of pedestrians and cafe patrons. It is anticipated that adequate lighting can be accomplished by
candles or battery operated lights placed on tables, umbrellas or displays in the sidewalk cafe.
No additional lighting shall be placed upon an adjacent building advertising the existence or
location of the sidewalk cafe.
e. Awnings and/or Umbrellas. Awnings and/or umbrellas may be used in conjunction with a
sidewalk cafe. Awnings shall be adequately secured and retractable. At no point shall the
height of the awning including the valance be less than seven (7') feet from the adjacent grade
elevation and more than fifteen (15') feet in height.
f. Heaters. Portable propane heaters shall be allowed within the cafe area with permits as
required by municipal and State fire codes.
g. Pedestrian Passageway. Each sidewalk cafe shall directly abut the restaurant so patrons and
servers do not cross the flow of sidewalk pedestrian traffic. In no case can access be blocked to
Fire Department connections or exits from the adjacent buildings.
h. Cafe Boundary. No portion of a sidewalk cafe, such as gates or any objects placed within a
sidewalk cafe, shall swing or project beyond the designated exterior perimeter of the sidewalk
cafe.
i. Planters and Landscaping. All planters must be able to be removed within a twenty-four (24)
hour notice period. No solid walls will be permitted. Plants shall be properly maintained and
stressed and dying plants shall be promptly replaced. Permanent landscaping shall be trees as
called for as part of the standards of the Special Improvement District.