Commercial Parklet License

Program Handbook

Commercial parklets are typically situated next to dining, drinking, or retail establishments and are designed for use that extends beyond a week. Commercial Parklets typically occupy the length of one or two parking spaces. However, they may extend further based on the length of the business’s storefront. Commercial Parklets are currently allowed in the City of Bend’s downtown district only. Operators of these parklets must secure a Commercial Parklet License and adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Program Handbook.

Carefully review the application steps and necessary materials listed below to ensure your application is complete. For a successful submission, please use the Online Permit Center and follow the provided instructions:

Initial Application

The City of Bend issues Commercial Parklet Licenses that are valid for one calendar year. These licenses start on January 1st and conclude on December 31st. Businesses in Bend can begin renewing their parklet licenses in November for the upcoming year. It is important to note that these licenses cannot be transferred to new owners of a business.

*Calculating the Monthly Commercial Parklet Fee:

• To calculate the fee for your area, first, measure the area in square feet.
• Since an average parking space downtown measures 8 feet by 20 feet, which equals 160 square feet, you will use this number for your calculations.
• Take the total square footage of your intended space and divide it by 160.
• Then, multiply the result by $60 to find out the monthly fee for your space.
• All Monthly Commercial Parklets Fees are assessed via the Parking Services Division.
• Billing invoices for this fee will be mailed to licensees from our Finance Department.
  • Contact them with all billing questions surrounding the monthly fee.

1Step: Obtain a valid City of Bend Business Registration

• To obtain a Commerical Parklet License, you first need to apply for a Business Registration. Visit the Business Registration page for more information.

• Obtain a Sidewalk Cafe License (if applicable).
  • If you plan to use sidewalk seating in addition to the parklet seating, you will need an active Sidewalk Cafe License. Visit the Sidewalk Cafe License page for more information.
• Obtain your Certificate of Insurance.
  • The City of Bend requires a Certificate of Insurance that lists the city as an additional insured party. This certificate should accompany the endorsement for general liability coverage, with a minimum of $2,000,000 per incident and $2,000,000 total. If alcohol is being served or sold, the policy must also include a liquor liability extension with the same coverage amounts.
  • NOTE: if a business has an active Sidewalk Cafe License, then they already satisfy these insurance requirements. No additional certificate(s) of insurance are required.
• Complete a detailed Location & Site Plan.
  • Refer to the Commercial Parklet Handbook for full requirements.
• Complete an Elevations Plan.
  • Refer to the Commercial Parklet Handbook for full requirements.
• Complete an Emergency Preparedness Plan.
  • Refer to the Commercial Parklet Handbook for full requirements.
• Complete a Sanitation Plan.
  • Refer to the Commercial Parklet Handbook for full requirements.
• Complete the Property & Business Owner Authorizations Form.
• Complete the Commercial Parklet Design & Safety Standards Acknowledgement Form.
• Complete the Use of ROW Agreement.
• Prepare Pre-parklet Construction Photos.
  • When applying to set up a parklet, businesses must include recent photos of the area they plan to use. These photos are important for a couple of reasons:
    • They help to assess any current damage to public infrastructure or property where the parklet will be located.
    • They serve as a reference to compare against the space’s condition after the parklet is removed. 
  • This ensures that any changes or damages can be accurately attributed to the parklet’s presence, helping to maintain the integrity of public spaces.

3Step: Submit Commercial Parklet License Application

Don’t have an account? Sign up

• In the Online Permit Center Portal, under choose the licensing type, select “Specialty Licenses and Programs.”
• On the Classification Step, select “Commercial Parklet” followed by the type of parklet that best fits the type of service you plan to provide.
• Complete the rest of the form and submit the application.
  • Be sure to have all previously completed items from Step 2 above ready to upload to your application.

The City of Bend issues commercial parklet licenses that are valid for one calendar year. These licenses start on January 1st and conclude on December 31st. Businesses in Bend can begin renewing their parklet licenses in November for the upcoming year. It is important to note that these licenses cannot be transferred to new owners of a business.

*Calculating the Monthly Commerical Parklet Fee:

• To calculate the fee for your area, first, measure the area in square feet.
• Since an average parking space downtown measures 8 feet by 20 feet, which equals 160 square feet, you will use this number for your calculations.
• Take the total square footage of your intended space and divide it by 160.
• Then, multiply the result by $60 to find out the monthly fee for your space.
• All Monthly Commerical Parklets Fees are assessed via the Parking Services Division.
• Billing invoices for this fee will be mailed to licensees from our Finance Department.
  • Contact them with all billing questions surrounding the monthly fee.

To renew your Commercial Parklet License, complete the following steps:

• Be sure you still have an ACTIVE Business Registration with the City of Bend.
• If you are using seating on sidewalks in addition to the parklet area, please be sure you still have an active Sidewalk Cafe License.
• Obtain your Certificate of Insurance.
  • Be sure to supply us with updated Certificate of Insurance if any have expired since your last license renewal.          
    • The City of Bend requires a Certificate of Insurance that lists the city as an additional insured party. This certificate should accompany the endorsement for general liability coverage, with a minimum of $2,000,000 per incident and $2,000,000 total. If alcohol is being served or sold, the policy must also include a liquor liability extension with the same coverage amounts.
  • NOTE: if a business has an active Sidewalk Cafe License, then they already satisfy these insurance requirements. No additional certificate(s) of insurance are required.
• Complete the Property & Business Owner Authorizations Form.
• Complete the Commercial Parklet Design & Safety Standards Acknowledgement Form.
• Complete the Use of ROW Agreement.
• Prepare Pre-parklet Construction Photos.
  • These are only required at time of renewal if you remove and reconstruct your parklet year over year. 

2Step: Submit Commercial Parklet License Renewal Application

Don’t have an account? Sign up

• Find your existing license in the Online Permit Center Portal to renew.
  • Login to the Online Permit Center Portal.
  • Access ‘My Items’ in the portal navigation.
  • Click the ‘Expand All’ item.
  • Find your Commercial Parklet License and click the ‘Renew This License’ button.
  • Complete the application and upload the pertinent items.
• Be sure to have all previously completed items from Step 1 above ready to upload to your renewal application.

• The City of Bend requires that applicants must not begin their operations until they have received a valid license along with a certificate of completion. For those wishing to operate from January through March, the City mandates that a fully completed application must be submitted no later than December 31st of the previous year.
• In downtown Bend, the City allocates 5% of all on-street parking spaces for parklet use. The City issues these parklet licenses on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to availability. At present, about 25 spaces are occupied for parklet operations, with around 60 spaces still open for interested businesses.
• The City of Bend processes applications and completes staff reviews in the sequence that fully completed applications are received. Commercial Parklet Licenses are then issued and must be visibly displayed at the business premises during operation hours.
• Licensees are responsible for constructing their commercial parklet spaces. After construction is finished, they must email licensing@bendoregon.gov to arrange an inspection. City officials will conduct these inspections to verify that the license is properly displayed and the parklet complies with all city regulations.
• Upon successful inspection, a Certificate of Completion will be granted, allowing the licensee to start using the parklet space. While this certificate does not need to be displayed, it should be kept accessible for any inquiries.
• The City may perform random inspections to ensure ongoing compliance with all regulations and that all necessary documents are present on-site.
• Renewal notices will be sent to the business owners, or the designated contacts listed on the license 60 days (about 2 months) before the current license expires.