Apply for a Street Furniture Licence

1. The area permitted for outdoor furniture shall be made accessible to everyone including people with impaired mobility.
    
2. The granting of a street furniture licence refers only to the placing of tables and chairs on a public footpath or roadway adjacent to the applicant’s property. It does not permit any advertising or storage of goods at the location. 
    
3. All furniture must be situated within the area specified on the licence at all times. 
    
4. The area for tables and chairs shall be enclosed by way of screens, the design of which, including material used, must be approved by Dublin City Council.
    
5. A copy of the Licence shall be prominently displayed at the main entrance outside the premises, so as to be clearly visible by members of the public and officials of Dublin City Council. The licence will be deemed invalid if, on inspection, items are found in the licensed area for which a licence has not been granted.
    
6. The granting of a street furniture licence does not automatically guarantee its renewal.
    
7. The applicant shall not sub-let the licensed area.
    
8. A change in use of the licensed area will require the submission of a new application.
    
9. The granting of a street furniture licence will be for a 12 month period.
    
10. The applicant or applicant’s agent shall maintain the area used in an acceptable condition so as not to constitute a nuisance. They shall indemnify Dublin City Council against all actions, suits, claims, demands by any person arising from injury or damage to person or property in consequence of the placement of the said table and chairs or other furniture on the footpath/road and will be responsible for compliance with public health advices including social distancing requirements.
     
11. The applicant shall be required to submit for inspection to Dublin City Council, and to continue to maintain a Public Liability Insurance policy, which provides cover to a minimum value of €6.5 million indemnifying Dublin City Council against third party claims.
     
12. Furniture and other items shall be removed immediately if requested by Dublin City Council. Equally, Dublin City Council reserves the right to cancel, suspend or vary the terms of the street furniture licence at any time. No claim for damages or loss of income under any heading shall be taken against Dublin City Council for suspending, cancelling or varying the terms of the Licence.
     
13. No claim for compensation shall be entertained in respect of damages or losses suffered as a direct or indirect consequence of the maintenance requirements of any statutory undertaker.
     
14. All costs incurred by Dublin City Council, including any repairs to the public road and services necessary arising as a result of the operation of the licence, shall be at the expense of the licence holder. Only Dublin City Council shall carry out work on the public road/footpath. The licence holder shall enter into an agreement with Dublin City Council to pay for any repairs to the footpath or public roadway arising from the licence.
     
15. Holes may not be made in the public road/footpath. No screens or furniture is to be bolted or fixed to the public footpath / Roadway. Permanent / semi-permanent structures are not permitted.
     
16. A clear and direct entry between the public footpath/road and the entrance to the premises shall be maintained at all times.
     
17. The tables and chairs or other items of street furniture etc. shall not obstruct visibility at junctions, accesses, fire exits and fire hydrants etc.
     
18. No musical apparatus shall be used within the licensed area and no music etc. shall be played or broadcast within the licensed area.
     
19. Access for maintenance purposes to public lighting equipment and the associated underground or over-head services shall be available at all times.
     
20. The licensed area shall not enclose any public lighting columns or apparatus or use public lighting equipment for unauthorised supports or attachments.
     
21. All water main covers, sewer manholes and service access points for utilities and fire hydrants shall be accessible at all times.
     
22. No table or chair or other item of street furniture shall be positioned over or obstructing a fire hydrant.
     
23. If intoxicating liquor is being served in the area covered by this licence the licence holder must also comply with the requirements of the Intoxicating Liquor Acts. The attention of the licence holder is also drawn to the Dublin City Council (Prohibition of Consumption of Intoxicating Liquor on Roads and in Public Places) Bye-Laws 2008, which prohibit the consumption of intoxicating liquor in public places. Failure to comply with the provisions of the Act & Bye Laws will result in the withdrawal of the street furniture licence.
     
24. Dublin City Council may reduce the licensed area in any particular case, where the occupied space is required in the interests of public safety or to facilitate any works/event during the course of the permitted period.
     
25. The tables and chairs or other furniture shall be of robust and stable construction to prevent movement in adverse wind conditions.
     
26. Screens as agreed by Dublin City Council are subject to the following conditions:
    1. Screens are not to be more that 1.8 metres high, spanning between or framed by simple metal type posts.
    2. Screens to be manufactured from flame/fire retardant materials.
    3. Base plates/weighted bases attached to screening posts must not extend outside the licenced area.
    4. All screens, posts and bases must be demountable.
    5. Screens must be sufficiently robust to prevent overturning in adverse wind conditions.
    6. No advertising, apart from the name of the premises, is to be used on the screens or any other items of furniture.
    7. Colour type and size of logos, lettering and names applied to the screens, ancillary equipment etc. must be approved by Dublin City Council.
        
27. Side awnings or front awnings may not be used to cover the licensed area.
     
28. The following Fire Regulations must be fully adhered to:
    1. The exits from the premises and adjacent premises are to be kept clear and are to be available for use at all material times.
    2. Access to Fire Hydrants is to be maintained at all times.
    3. All furnishings and fittings in the outdoor seating area (including tables and chairs), are to comply with the Department of the Environment “Code of Practice for Fire Safety of Furnishings and Fittings in Places of Assembly”, and are to be non-combustible or constructed of material of limited combustibility.
    4. The use of portable LPG heaters are not permitted. Heating appliances shall be:
       1. Permanently piped gas heating in compliance with I.S. 820:2019.
       2. Electric Heating (achieving a minimum IP Rating of IP55).
       3. Infra-red Heating (achieving a minimum IP Rating of IP55).
    5. Where heaters are located within, or directly in contact with an umbrella / awning used for outdoor seating, the umbrella / awning shall be:
       1. Constructed of materials of limited combustibility.
       2. Certified for use with an outdoor heater.
    6. Heating appliances shall be located such that they do not block escape routes.
    7. All outdoor heaters should comply with the relevant Irish Standards, should be installed by a competent person, and the installation should be certified, as required by the standard.
    8. If planting is provided to the outdoor area, it is the responsibility of the owner / occupier to ensure that if they install outdoor heaters at a later stage, they are installed by a competent person and, the location of the heaters are sufficiently remote from the planting that the heaters don’t act as an ignition source for vegetation.
    9. If planting is provided, it’s to be watered regularly to ensure it doesn’t dry out.
    10. No smoking is permitted in the outdoor seating area.
    11. The use of un-treated timber plinths and artificial grass is not permitted.
    12. All outdoor seating area is to be constructed throughout of material of limited combustibility. If the area is constructed of timber, the timber is required to be impregnated (as opposed to being treated with a surface painted fire retardant), to comply with Part B of the Building Regulations.
    13. The entire premises (including their outdoor seating areas), is to be managed in accordance with the Code of Practice for Fire Safety in Places of Assembly & Recreation. 
         
29. The footpath/road clearance as specified in the licence must be maintained at all times.
     
30. Street Furniture may only be placed on the street between the times specified on the licence and must be removed outside these hours. If any street furniture is in place outside of permitted hours the licence will be rescinded and furniture will be removed at the licence holder’s expense.

A Fire Safety Certificate is required when applying for a Street Furniture Licence. Find more information on our Getting a Fire Safety Certificate page.

Applicants should obtain the services of a fire consultant or chartered engineer to make the Fire Safety Certificate Application on their behalf.

All furniture and fittings must comply with the Department of the Environment Code of Practice for Fire Safety of Furnishings and Fittings in Places of Assembly (1989).

Awnings (requiring Planning Permission)

Where awnings can open directly opposite each other on both sides of the street, a minimum separation distance of 3.5m is required between fully extended awnings to allow for Fire Brigade access.

Heating

Outdoor heating should consist of one of the following options:

• Permanently piped gas heating (in compliance with I.S. 820:2019).
• Electric Heating (achieving a minimum IP Rating of IP55).
• Infra-red Heating (achieving a minimum IP Rating of IP55).

All outdoor heaters should comply with the relevant Irish Standards, should be installed by a competent person and the installation should be certified, as outlined in the standard. Outdoor heaters are to be located so that they do not block escape routes. The use of portable LPG heaters is not permitted.

Barriers and Windbreakers

• Barriers and windbreakers must not be bolted or fixed to the public footpath or roadway.
• Barriers and windbreakers should not impede escape from the outdoor seating area.
• Where barriers or windbreakers extend for more than 18m in length, they are required to have clear openings achieving a width of 900mm to allow occupants to escape the outdoor seating area.

Tables and Chairs

Tables and chairs are to be located so that they do not:

• Block or impede the means of escape from the premises or adjacent premises.
• Block or impede access to fire hydrants.
• Reduce the clear minimum width of the roadway to less than 3.5m, which is required for Fire Brigade access.

In addition to the above, all tables and chairs are to be constructed of non-combustible materials or are to comply with the Department of the Environment Code of Practice for Fire Safety of Furnishings and Fittings in Places of Assembly.

Umbrellas

No smoking shall be permitted under outdoor umbrellas. Where infrared or electric heaters are located within or directly in contact with an umbrella used for outdoor seating, the umbrella shall be certified for use with an outdoor heater.

Use of Public Footpath

The use of the public footpath for outdoor street furniture, should not:

• Block or impede the means of escape from the premises or adjacent premises.
• Block or impede access to fire hydrants.

It is our policy to assist hospitality businesses wishing to operate in public spaces adjacent to their premises. 

Yes. Dublin City Council has responsibility for managing public spaces throughout the city. We need to make sure that the public domain is safe and navigable for all citizens. Therefore businesses must operate within certain regulations and guidelines.

Generally you can, but you need to apply for an annual Street Furniture Licence.

You cannot block or interfere with fire exits and you will need to maintain a 1.8 metre circulation space on the footpath over and above your temporary seating space. This ensures safe movement of pedestrians and people with disabilities. It may not be possible to accommodate your application if this requirement cannot be met.

Tables, chairs, barriers and windbreakers are covered under this licence. All furniture items must be capable of being removed every evening and stored off street.

In most situations the answer is no. For any further enquiries please contact us by emailing [email protected].

Yes, in appropriate locations DCC supports businesses making combined applications. These applications will be subject to additional requirements.

Get in touch by email and tell us what you are proposing. We can point you in the direction of other businesses that are approved and operating successfully. They can be observed as models of best practice.

The safety of customers and of members of the public is paramount. Please see the General Guidance, Dublin Fire Brigade Fire Safety and Operational Requirements documents outlined below.