Street Furniture Licence

In order to qualify for this scheme you must serve food to the public that can be eaten onsite. Note that it may not be possible for business premises without suitable space outside to obtain this licence. The conditions are explained below.

To apply for a Street Furniture Licence, follow these steps:

Step 1: Arrange a meeting with Dublin City Council’s street furniture unit

A visit to your premises will ascertain if the footpath can accommodate tables and chairs. This meeting is consultative only; it does not mean a licence will be issued. Note that a licence can only be granted for the area that is right outside your premises and under your control (except in exceptional circumstances).

Step 2: Publish a notice in a national newspaper

If after this meeting you decide to proceed with your application, you must place a notice in a national newspaper that states your intention to apply for a licence. This must contain the following information:

• Your name
• The address for which you are applying
• The number of tables, chairs and other equipment to be placed on the footpath
• The amount of space (in square metres) you wish to use
• A statement that your application can be inspected at Dublin City Council’s civic offices and can be observed by the public for 5 weeks

Step 3: Place an A4 size notice on your premises that summarises your application

This notice must be visible to the public and contain the same information as the newspaper notice above.

Step 4: Complete and return the application form

Step 5: Application is processed

When processing your application, the following criteria will be considered:

• Safety of pedestrians
• Width of the footpath
• Number of pedestrians using the footpath
• Number of items of street furniture in the area
• Reports from Dublin City Council departments such as Planning, Chief Fire Office and Roads & Traffic
• Observations from An Garda Síochána
• Comments from the public

Step 6: Granting of licence and payment of fees

If a licence is granted, you will need to get Public Liability Insurance for €6 million and provide evidence of having done so.

1. Initial annual Street Furniture Licence fee = €100
2. Annual renewal fee = €50
3. Annual fee per table = €125
4. Annual space rental charge per square metre (as below). This charge varies depending on what zone you are in. Download this map to find out what licence zone you are in (PDF 311Kb)

For space on a pedestrianised street in the core of the City Centre (Yellow Zone)

• Less than 4 metres squared = €200
• Greater than 4 metres squared = €500

For space on a non-pedestrianised street in the core of the City Centre (Yellow Zone)

• Less than 4 metres squared = €200
• Greater than 4 metres squared = €400

For space on any other street in the City Centre (Red Zone)

• Less than 4 metres squared = €200
• Greater than 4 metres squared = €300

For space on any other street in the entire city

• Less than 4 metres squared = €200
• Greater than 4 metres squared = €200