Wilmington City Council passes sidewalk cafe ordinance

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY)– After walking around the issue for months, the Wilmington City Council finally took action tonight on sidewalk cafes. In a 6-0 vote, city councilors approved new rules. That means restaurants will buy a yearly permit to set up sidewalk dining. The cafes must have servers and offer menus. Seating is limited to half of what’s available inside. No standing is allowed if they are overcapacity!Depending on sidewalk width, cafes must leave four to five feet open for pedestrians, and the outdoor dining area must close each night by 11p.m. The city will be charging rent for using the sidewalk, but they tabled that vote for later.