Click here to skip to main content.
scenic picture from Washington state
SUBJECTS › PUBLIC WORKS › Special Events Permits and Participation Policies: Street Fairs and Other Special Community Events
Updated 08/07

Special Events Permits and Participation Policies:
Street Fairs and Other Special Community Events

Contents

About Special Events

Special events, such as fun runs, roadway foot races, fundraising walks, bikeathons, parades, carnivals, shows, exhibitions, circuses and fairs promote tourism, foster economic revitalization of downtowns and neighborhoods and provide cultural activities for residents.  Events such as neighborhood block parties help build community when properly controlled.  Cities and counties normally encourage such events within an environment that allows for the excitement and fun anticipated, yet adequately provides for the protection of citizens, visitors and all participants involved.

This Web page contains sample municipal/county code excerpts,  policies regulating various special events, and application forms. The first section relates to regulations that protect the  safety and health of the participants, protection of public property and impacts of the event on non-participating citizens. A corollary purpose to most policies and codes is to ensure that those who benefit from an event bear proportionate shares of the cost of the event.  The general coverage of the special event regulations has been listed on many of the regulations, but it is not to be considered inclusive, and in some instances certain gatherings are exempt from license requirements and/ or fees.   

The second section contains sample policies and procedures for city or county participation in special events, whether joint funding or provision of services.

Regulations for Special Events

  • Bainbridge Island Municipal Code, Chapter 12.06 - Parades and Assemblies - Traditional parades, fun runs, roadway foot races, fundraising walks or runs, auctions, bikeathons, parades, carnivals, shows or exhibitions, filming/movie events, circuses, block parties and street fairs.
  • Battle Ground Ordinance No. 06-09 - Adopts permit requirements and standards for special events, passed 07/06
  • Bellevue
    • Bellevue Municipal Code Chapter 14.50 - Special Events
    • Bellevue Municipal Code  Chapter 5.12 - Temporary Special Events (Licensing)
    • College Place Municipal Code  Chapter 12.04  - Special Events Activities 
  • Coupeville
  • Enumclaw
  • Federal Way
  • Fircrest
  • Friday Harbor
  • Gig Harbor
  • Issaquah
    • Issaquah Municipal Code  Chapter 5.14  - Special Event/Special Use Permit - Fun runs, roadway foot races, fundraising walks, bikeathons, parades, carnivals, shows, exhibitions, circuses and fairs - includes events that occur on private property
    • Issaquah Special Event Permit Application (Adobe Acrobat Document 219 KB)
    • Issaquah Ordinance No. 2371 (Adobe Acrobat Document 216 KB) providing special requirements for retail sales or solicitation activities during Salmon Days, passed 9/03
  • Kirkland
    • Kirkland Special Events
    • Kirkland Municipal Code Chapter 19.24 - Temporary Special Events - Any fair, show, festival, or other attended entertainment or celebration, conducted by a nonprofit, public service organization, which entertainment is not of a political, religious or commercial nature; and which event is to be held in whole or in part upon publicly owned property and/or public rights-of-way, or if held wholly upon private property, will nevertheless affect or impact the ordinary and normal use by the general public of public property or public rights-of-way within the vicinity of such event.
  • Leavenworth Ordinance No. 01-2001 (Adobe Acrobat Document 15 KB) - Establishing Standards and Requirements for Festivals in the Public Right of Way
  • Marysville
    • Marysville Municipal Code Ch. 5.46 - Special Events - Any event which is to be conducted on public property or on a public right-of-way; and, also, any event held on private property which would have a direct significant impact on traffic congestion; or traffic flow to and from the event over public streets or rights-of-way; or which would significantly impact the need for city-provided emergency services such as police, fire or medical aid
    • Marysville Application for Special Event Permit (Adobe Acrobat Document 31 KB)
  • Monroe Municipal Code Chapter 5.28 - Special Events - Any parade, fair, show, festival, carnival, rally, party, filming of movie, video or television show, motorcade, run, street dance, bike-a-thon, race, walks, athletic event or other attended entertainment or celebration that is to be held in whole or in part upon publicly owned property and/or public right-of-way, or, if held wholly upon private property, will nevertheless affect or impact the ordinary and normal use by the general public of public property or public rights-of-way within the vicinity of the event. Special event shall also mean any activity to be held in whole or in part upon publicly owned or controlled property and/or public rights-of-way where merchandise or services are offered for sale, whether by for profit or nonprofit organizations
  • Oak Harbor Ordinance No. 1490 ( 44 KB) - Parades, Athletic Events and Other Special Events
  • Ocean Shores Municipal Code  Chapter 5.24 - Special Events - festivals, parades, competitions, marine events, shows, exhibitions, fairs, outdoor dances, concerts, rodeos, swap meets, outdoor sales, or activities at which booths, stalls, concessions, food sales, rides or other activities are allowed, using city facilities or property
  • Olympia Municipal Code, Chapter 5.17 - Community Events - Any festival, celebration, fair or other similar event held in the city with local participation and sponsorship
  • Poulsbo
  • Redmond
    • Redmond General Information About Special Events ( 14 KB)
    • Redmond Municipal Code  Chapter 10.60 - Permits for Special Events - Any activity which occurs upon private or public property that will affect the standard and ordinary use of public streets, rights-of-ways and/or sidewalks. This includes, but is not limited to, fairs, festivals, foot runs, bicycle runs and block parties.
  • Seattle
  • Sequim Ordinance No. 2003-008 (Adobe Acrobat Document148 KB) - Amends Chapter 18.68 (Temporary Activities, Structures and Special Events) - Any parade, festival, exposition, show, sale, party or other similar activity conducted wholly on public property or partly
    on public property
  • Snohomish
  • Tacoma Special Events Permits
  • Tumwater Municipal Code Chapter 10.28 - Public Events - Any festival, celebration, fair, rally, sporting event or similar occurrence which is open to the public and is conducted, at least in part, on city streets
  • Woodinville Municipal Code Ch. 8.12 - Includes block parties
  • University Place Municipal Code Ch. 5.10 - Special Events - Includes block parties
  • Out of State
    • Hillsborough California Municipal Code  Chapter 5.16 - Fundraising Events  (Regulates Impacts on Public)
    • City of Malibu, California  Special Events Permits - Parties and Special Events 
      • Malibu Municipal Code  Chapter  17.68  - Temporary Use Permits  - Includes indoor and outdoor entertainment and assembly events such as weddings, fund-raisers, retreats, fairs, festivals and concerts, art, cultural, and educational exhibits and displays 

Policies Governing City/County Participation in Special Events