Mayor

Activation of Public Spaces Initiative

Under Mayor Brown's direction, the City of Spokane has advanced programs and introduced city-sponsored opportunities to encourage activation through recreation, support for local businesses, and neighborhood connection.

Play Streets and Block Parties

If your block party is:

• Free and open to your neighbors;
• Only closes one block of the street;
• Does not require closing an arterial, intersection, or bus stop; and
• Only closes the block between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

The Spokane Play Streets Program is for you! Let us know your plans by filling out the special events permit application.

There is no permit fee for the Spokane Play Streets Program, but there are a few rules to keep your party safe:

1. Make sure your block party isn't near street construction (around 500 feet).
2. Give your neighbors a heads-up about the upcoming party at least a couple of days in advance
3. Set up the required traffic barricades and signage as below. Need to borrow those barricades and signs? Check them out for free from the Spokane Public Library!

Outdoor Dining

Under the City's Activation of Public Spaces program, bars, breweries, and restaurants may expand outdoor dining opportunities through programs such as the Café Table Pilot Program, Expanded Outdoor Alcohol Service, or through Sidewalk Cafes and Parklets. Businesses may:

• Convert off-street private parking stalls may be converted to an outdoor alcohol service area, or other temporary seating, upon permission of the parking lot owner, when the parking lot is adjacent to the restaurant or utilized for mobile food vending.
• Extend a sidewalk café or outdoor alcohol service area past the frontage of the applicant’s business, so long as the applicant has permission from the adjoining property owner.
• Share use of an outdoor alcohol service area with other approved licenses and share use of an outdoor alcohol service area with businesses that do not engage in the sale or service of alcohol.

The rules and procedures of the program may be found on our website.

Parklets and Street Cafes

The City allows sidewalk cafes, street cafes, and parklets for businesses looking for more permanent outdoor dining options. A license to operate a sidewalk café, street café, or parklet is required from the Development Services Center and must meet pedestrian clearance and other conditions. The City has waived annual license fees for sidewalk cafes, street cafes, and parklets through December 31, 2027.

Café Table Program

As part of a pilot program to provide additional outdoor dining opportunities in downtown Spokane, the City of Spokane will provide outdoor café tables set from June to August to interested downtown businesses with sufficient space for placement of the table set on the sidewalk in the adjacent public right-of-way. Tables will be available for public use from June to August.

Request a Table

To request a table, please fill out the "Request a Table" online form.

View the Café Table Guidelines and learn more about the program by visiting their project webpage.

Expanded Outdoor Alcohol Service

A no-fee license issued by the Development Services Center is required to provide expanded outdoor alcohol service. The license must be renewed annually. This program is authorized by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board through December 31, 2027.