Street cafe

A dining platform located on a street or road must be licensed by the City.

About

A street cafe is a platform on the road with tables and chairs. 

Street cafes:

  • Provide extra seating at a restaurant 
  • Can be an extension of a sidewalk cafe

In this section

street cafe

What to know

Street cafes must

  • Have insurance
  • Make sure their space is eligible for a street cafe

Fill out the confirmation of eligibility checklist

Standards

We have all the information you need to design and build your street cafe.

See sidewalk and street cafe standards

Application and fee

Application

Street cafes in Minneapolis must be licensed.

Apply for a street cafe license

Submit your application

Submit your application to Business Licenses

If you have questions, contact Business Licenses

Requirements

Before you begin

Look at our information about:  

Food safety

You are responsible for food safety. This includes control of food from preparation to serving customers.

See City and State food safety resources:

Record some employee illnesses:

Follow City and State regulations:

 

Food plan review

You must submit plans to: 

  • Open a new food or alcohol business, including:
    • Food carts
    • Food kiosks
    • Food trucks 
  • Remodel or expand an existing food or alcohol business 
  • Replace food equipment that needs any of these permits for installation:
    • Gas
    • Mechanical
    • Plumbing  
  • Add ventless cooking equipment or ventless hoods  

The City must approve your plans before you start any work.

See food plan review

Green To Go

Two people holding compostable beverage cups

Minneapolis has rules about containers for prepared food

Food and beverages prepared to be:

  • Eaten immediately off-site or
  • Taken to-go

Must be in containers that are:  

  • Reusable 
  • Recyclable or
  • Compostable

Read more about required containers

Read City code rules

More information

Inspection

Your food handling methods determine how often the City will inspect your business.

Disclaimer

The information on this page should serve as a guideline only.

Request accessible format

If you need help with this information, please email 3 1 1, or call 311 or 612-673-3000.

Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Contact us

Environmental Health

Minneapolis Health Department

Phone

612-673-2301

Address

Public Service Building
505 Fourth Ave. S., Room 520
Minneapolis, MN 55415

Business Licenses & Consumer Services

Address

Public Service Building
505 Fourth Ave. S., Room 220
Minneapolis, MN 55415

Office hours
8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Monday – Thursday

9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Friday