Sonoma Municipal Code Ch. 12.04 Obstruction to Streets and Public Ways

No person shall cause or permit any vehicle or animal under his charge to stand or go upon any public sidewalk, or to stand upon the crosswalks thereof, or so near thereto as to obstruct the same. (Ord. 68 Art. XV § 6, 1900).

No person shall leave standing in any of the streets, alleys or highways of this city any horse or animals attached to or hitched to any wagon, cart, carriage, buggy, or other vehicle unless attended by some person of suitable age and discretion or hitched in a good and substantial manner; provided, that drivers of delivery wagons or carts used in this city for delivering goods from stores therein may fasten or hitch the animal or animals drawing such delivery wagon by fastening or hitching such animal or animals to a weight, weighing not less than 20 pounds, placed upon the ground. (Ord. 68 Art. XV § 7, 1900).

No person shall place any crates, cases, barrels, boxes or tanks on the sidewalk, nor suffer anything to remain thereon in front of premises occupied by him, which will in any manner restrict the public use thereof; but this restriction shall not apply to goods in the actual course of receipt or delivery into or from any place of business, if a space of not less than six feet in width of the sidewalk is left free for public travel at all times and such goods are removed from the sidewalk without delay. (Ord. 68 Art. XV § 16, 1900).

A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to encourage commerce and promote pedestrian traffic by allowing opportunities for safe and visually appealing outdoor display of merchandise in conjunction with commercial businesses, on and immediately adjacent to public sidewalks in the city of Sonoma.

B. Definitions.

1. “Outdoor display of merchandise” means the use of sidewalk areas by an immediately adjoining commercial business for the display and sale of merchandise, goods or commodities, including any structures such as tables, chairs, racks, etc., from which merchandise is displayed and/or sold.

2. “Sidewalk areas” means the public sidewalk and/or privately-owned areas immediately adjacent to the public sidewalk, including but not limited to pedestrian ways, arcades, entries, and alcoves.

C. Permit Required. Ongoing outdoor displays of merchandise may be allowed on sidewalk areas adjacent to commercial businesses, subject to approval of an outdoor merchandise display permit as set forth in this section.

D. Permissible Locations. Outdoor display of merchandise on sidewalk areas must be in conjunction with, and clearly incidental to, operation of an adjacent commercial business. Merchandise displayed in front of a business shall be confined to that portion of sidewalk area directly in front of the associated adjacent commercial business, subject to the standards of this chapter.

E. Requirements for Outdoor Display Areas. Outdoor displays shall be subject to the following requirements:

1. Maximum Area. The area devoted to outdoor display of merchandise shall not exceed a footprint of 16 square feet per business, unless approved by the review authority.

2. Maximum Height. The maximum height for any portion of an outdoor merchandise display is seven feet.

3. Dimensions. Outdoor merchandise display areas shall not extend more than two feet from the adjacent store front, as measured perpendicular from the exterior building wall of the adjacent structure.

F. Required Sidewalk Clearance and Accessibility. In all cases, a minimum clearance of four feet of public sidewalk width shall be maintained unimpeded and free of obstruction at all points to allow for safe pedestrian circulation and handicap access. Doorways and other building entrances and exits shall not be impeded and in all cases shall comply with the building code for door clearances and exit width.

G. Hours of Operation. Outdoor display of merchandise is limited to the hours of operation of the related adjacent commercial business. All material associated with the outdoor display, including goods, commodities and display structures (i.e., tables, racks, etc.), shall be removed from the sidewalk area and taken indoors upon the close of each business day.

H. Permit Process. Applicants for outside merchandise display permits shall submit an application to the planning division. Outdoor merchandise display permit applications shall be considered and acted upon administratively by the community development director or his/her designee, or by the review authority, subject to the regulations in this title and SMC 19.50.060. Permit applications must include a site plan and proof of insurance, and shall be accompanied by a fee set by the city council by resolution. If the application is found to be complete and in compliance with the provisions of this section, a permit shall be granted. Proof of insurance must be provided on an annual basis thereafter.

I. Special Limitations. An outdoor merchandise display permit is an interruptible or revocable privilege. The city shall have the right and power, acting through the city manager or his/her designee, to suspend the operation of an outdoor merchandise display area at any time because of anticipated or actual problems or conflicts in the use of the sidewalk area. Such problems and conflicts may arise from, but are not limited to, scheduled festivals and similar events, parades, marches, demonstrations, repairs to the street or sidewalk, or emergencies occurring in the area. To the extent possible, the permittee shall be given prior notice of any time period during which the city will suspend the operation of the outside merchandise display area.

J. Proof of Insurance. Prior to issuance of an outdoor merchandise display permit, the applicant shall provide proof of insurance and indemnification as required under the city’s risk management policies. Proof of insurance shall be provided to the city as part of the original permit application and on a yearly basis thereafter.

K. Signage. All signage associated with the outdoor merchandise display shall conform to the requirements of the city’s sign regulations (SMC Title 18, Signs and Display Advertising). Notwithstanding, individual price tags on merchandise are allowed.

L. Aesthetics. All material associated with outdoor display of merchandise, including goods, commodities and display structures (i.e., tables, racks, etc.) shall be kept clean, attractive, safe, and in good repair. The permittee shall also be responsible for keeping the sidewalk area in front of the business clean, swept and free of litter and debris.

M. Permit Revocation. An outdoor merchandise display permit may be revoked by the planning and community services administrator, following written notice to the permittee, if one or more of the conditions of the permit or of this section have been violated or if the outdoor merchandise display area is being operated in a manner which constitutes a nuisance, or unduly impedes or restricts the movements of pedestrians. Following revocation, no application for the same site shall be filed for a period of six months.

N. Appeals. The granting, denial or revocation of an outdoor merchandise display permit may be appealed to the city council in accordance with the appeal procedures set forth in Chapter 19.84 SMC.

O. Sunset Clause. The ordinance codified in this section shall expire one year from the effective date [April 6, 2002] of its execution unless, prior to that date, the city council takes affirmative action to extend the ordinance. (Ord. 11-2025 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025; Ord. 06-2013 § 3, 2013; Ord. 01-2011 §§ 1, 2, 2011; Ord. 2002-02 § 1, 2002; Ord. 77-17 § 1, 1977; Ord. 76-21 § 1, 1976).