Roadside dining permit

Roadside dining involves a business setting up a dining area on a public footpath outside its premises. If you want to set up roadside dining on the Gold Coast, you need a roadside dining permit.

You do not need a permit to set up dining on private property.

We regulate roadside dining to help ensure businesses operate safely and in compliance with local laws.

Do you need a roadside dining permit?

You need a roadside dining permit to set up a dining area on a public footway (footpath).

This includes the use of:

• tables and chairs
• market-style umbrellas
• removable shade structures
• menu signs and waiter stations
• café barriers
• portable gas heaters
• planter boxes.

The following are not permitted in roadside dining areas:

• cooking equipment
• cash registers
• coffee urns
• refrigerators
• bain-maries
• other ancillary equipment that may create a safety hazard.

Roadside dining permits are renewed annually and are valid until 31 August each year.

Before submitting your application:

• review the Outdoor Dining Guidelines(PDF, 3MB) and Outdoor Dining Plan Checklist(PDF, 386KB)
• ensure the proposed roadside dining area is adjacent to your business premises
• gather all required supporting documents
• ensure your public liability insurance is current
• obtain any external approvals that may be required, including approval from the Department of Transport and Main Roads if the proposed dining area is adjacent to a state-controlled road.

Permits are assessed individually and approval is not guaranteed. We may contact you for additional information during the assessment process.

For more information about roadside dining requirements, call 07 5667 5987.

Required documents

All applications

• Public liability insurance certificate of currency (minimum cover of $20 million)
• A detailed roadside dining plan showing the design, dimensions and layout of the proposed dining area
• Details of required pedestrian clearances in accordance with the Outdoor Dining Guidelines
• An adjacent operator letter of no objection if any part of the proposed dining area extends beyond your business frontage
• A suitability statement (only if you have previously had a roadside dining permit refused, suspended or cancelled).

Roadside dining beneath an awning

You will also need:

• awning certification prepared by a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ) competent in structural engineering.

Removable shade structures

You will also need:

• detailed drawings of any removable shade structures fixed or bolted to the footpath
• a removable shade structures permit and/or electrical installations application, where applicable.

State-controlled roads

You will also need:

• a Road Corridor Permit from the Department of Transport and Main Roads if the proposed roadside dining area is adjacent to a state-controlled road.

Permit fees

There is no application fee for a roadside dining permit.

Roadside dining area fees are charged per square metre (or part thereof) per day. Fees are payable monthly in advance from the date the permit is issued.

Charges vary depending on the location of the roadside dining area and are reviewed annually through our Register of fees and charges.

For current fees, refer to the Register of fees and charges.

How to apply

Submit your application at least 30 business days before you plan to start operating.