Entertainment and Guest Experience
Planning outdoor dining, live music, valet parking, or games? Learn which permits your Boston restaurant needs and how to apply.
Some restaurants offer more than just a meal. If you plan to seat guests outside, have TVs or other entertainment, offer valet parking, or have billiards or other games, you'll need additional permits and licenses before you open.
Check this list to see which ones apply to your business.
Outdoor Dining
Timeline: 1-3 weeks for returning applicants with previously approved plans; 2-4 weeks for new applicants and those making changes.
There are two routes to offering outdoor dining at your restaurant in the City of Boston, permanent outdoor dining and seasonal, temporary outdoor dining.
Permanent Outdoor Dining
If you’re planning to apply for a permanent outdoor dining license, you’ll need approval from a number of City agencies, including the Office of Neighborhood Services, Inspectional Services Department, Boston Fire Prevention, the Commission for Persons with Disabilities, and the Boston Licensing Board.
You can work with these agencies at the same time. You don’t need to wait for approval from one to work with the next.
Once you’re approved, your outdoor patio must be listed or described on these permits and licenses:
- Inspection Certificate
- Certificate of Occupancy
- Place of Assembly Permit (if total capacity is more than 49 people)
- Common Victualler License or Alcohol License
Seasonal Outdoor Dining
The City of Boston's Outdoor Dining Program can help you temporarily expand your restaurant during warmer months with a patio on the sidewalk, street, or private property.
The program can help you with outdoor dining consultations, accessible design templates, real-time application tracking, office hours, site visits, and annual license renewals.
It runs from May 1 through October 31 each year. You must apply before the season starts. The application portal typically opens in February.
Get an Entertainment License
Timeline: 1-4 weeks for processing, longer if you need a hearing.
The Entertainment License lets you offer different kinds of entertainment, like TVs, disc jockey, or dart boards, in an establishment in Boston.
Apply online, or at the Entertainment Licensing Division in City Hall.
Licenses aren’t transferable. Renew in November.
If the type of entertainment you want to offer isn’t allowed in your space, you will need to file an appeal with the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Non-Live Entertainment
The Non-Live Entertainment License covers TVs, audio devices (like speakers or radios), jukeboxes, dart boards, and other similar entertainment.
Live Entertainment
The Live Entertainment License covers public shows, like concerts, dance exhibitions, and other similar events, or events that will have disc jockey, instrumental or vocal music, or dancing. The Live Entertainment license also includes all entertainment in the Non-Live Entertainment License.
Bowling, Billiards, Pool, and Sippio License
Timeline: 4 weeks for processing, longer if you need a hearing.
If you want to offer bowling, billiards, pool, or sippio (a type of cue sport) tables, you need a license from the Licensing Board.
Application checklist
Before you can complete the application, you will need:
- Copy of the lease agreement or deed
- An 8 ½ x 11 floor plan
- Completed Personal Information Form
- Criminal Record Information Forms for the applicant, owners of the business, manager of the business, and all employees of the business
- Copy of the Certificate of Occupancy
- Copy of the Inspection Certificate
- Copy of the Place of Assembly Permit
- Copy of the Business Certificate
Renew by the end of November each year.
Community Process
Before you can get this license, you need to let neighbors know about your plans.
- Contact your neighborhood liaison
- Meet with the local Neighborhood Association
- Speak with the District City Councilor
- A Licensing staff person will send you further instructions regarding the abutter’s notification, legal ad, and hearing.
