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City of Bloomington, Illinois

cityclerk@cityblm.org

115 E. Washington St., Bloomington, IL, 61701, US

309-434-2509

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Outdoor Dining & Bar Operations Permit
Thank you for your interest in obtaining an Outdoor Dining & Bar Operations permit in the City of Bloomington! This permit application is designed for existing businesses that wish to have outdoor seating areas within public rights-of-way (sidewalks, green spaces, alleys, parking spaces, parking lots, etc.) along the business’ frontage.

NOTE: This permit is optional for businesses that do not have a previously approved permanent outdoor space.


Application Process
  1. Applicant submits application and all required documents (listed below).
  2. The submitted application and attachments are reviewed by the several Departments within the City.
    1. Please note that applications are routed through various stages of review and may take time to be fully processed. During the review, the City Clerk Department will contact the applicant via email with any questions or if additional information is needed.
  4. Once the review is complete, the City Clerk Department will notify the applicant via email of the final application status (approved or denied).
  5. If the approved set-up requires City resources (barricades, fencing, etc.), the City will work with the approved business to ensure the proper set-up is completed.
  6. If approved and after set-up is complete, the applicant will receive a permit for the approved permit dates, which must be printed and posted at the establishment as proof of approval.
    1. If denied, the applicant will be notified via email with the reason for denial.
Required Documentation
  • Floor Plan of the proposed outdoor service area - Hand-drawn plans are accepted, but should include measurements to ensure ADA Compliance. If the applicant business is located in Downtown Bloomington, please reach out to the Community Impact & Enhancement Department at (309) 434-2509 Ext. 2 for additional assistance with a floor plan that includes a public right of way
  • Certificate of Insurance (Not Policy Declaration Page)
    • The Certificate must include:
      • Applicant’s name as the insured (i.e., if the applicant is a corporation, the corporation’s name must be listed);
      • DBA/Assumed Name, if applicable;
      • Address of the establishment that holds the license;
      • Dates of coverage (start and end) and coverage limits;
      • Liquor Liability coverage;
      • The City of Bloomington, 115 E. Washington St. Bloomington, IL 61701 listed as the Certificate Holder (bottom left of the Certificate); and
      • In the Description Box (towards the bottom of the Certificate), the following must be noted:
        • The City of Bloomington is listed as an Additional Insured; and
        • The coverage extends to the approved Outdoor Dining Area.
Conditional Permit Requirements, when Applicable
The following information is reviewed internally, so businesses should not submit any documentation for the following unless specifically requested.
  • Entities must be in good standing with the State of IL.
  • City of Bloomington Liquor License must be active and in good standing if alcohol is requested to be consumed.
  • Adjacent Property/Business Owner Permission - Establishments may expand Outdoor Dining & Bar Operations in front of neighboring businesses or to other areas with written permission from immediately adjacent property/business owners or the City of Bloomington.
    • The written permission should include:
      • Applicant business Entity Name and DBA/Assumed Name;
      • Specific year date range they approve for the space to be used;
      • The following for the person(s) providing permission:
        • The address of adjacent property that will be used, and if applicable, the name of their business;
        • Their name, relation to the property (to show why they have the authority to provide permission), phone number, and email address; and
        • Their signature.
Permit Fees
Free for 2025

Additional Information
Section § 25.1.6 of Executive Order 2025 – 01 provides the following:

The City Council has approved a Downtown for Everyone Streetscape Plan which includes multi-year, multi-phase aesthetic and infrastructure improvements in Downtown Bloomington. Construction drawings for Phase 1 of the Plan are now complete and going out to bid. Businesses located in the 500 and 600 blocks of Main Street will be the first to benefit from the improvements. Phase 1 work could begin as early as June 1, 2025. In an effort to keep the Downtown Streetscape plan a priority, applications submitted by establishments located in the 500 and 600 blocks of Main Street may be adjusted or denied.

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For additional information on Outdoor Dining & Bar Operations Permits or to file a complaint, please visit the City Clerk Department's Outdoor Dining & Bar Operations page on the City's website.
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REQUIRED - Floor Plan of the proposed outdoor service area, Hand-drawn plans are accepted, but should include measurements to ensure ADA Compliance. If business is located in Downtown Bloomington, please reach out to the Community Impact and Enhancement Department at (309) 434-2509 Ext. 2 for additional assistance with a floor plan that includes public right of way. Click Here to Upload
REQUIRED - Certificate of Insurance, which must include all required fields and information listed on the cover page, website, and application. Click Here to Upload
IF APPLICABLE - Adjacent Property/Business Owner Permission, with all requirements listed on the cover page, website, and application, for establishments expanding Outdoor Dining and Bar Operations in front of neighboring or adjacent businesses. Click Here to Upload