A special event permit allows a business or organization to use its property for short-term special events that meet certain specified standards and conditions. Uses that are subject to this permit are those that have strong potential to conflict with surrounding uses if not appropriately sited within a given district. The review process is to ensure that the event will not be disruptive, obnoxious, or incompatible with surrounding residents and businesses.

See the block parties page for specific requirements for those events.

Special events are divided into two classifications:

• Type 1 Special Event - includes fundraising activities, grand opening and going-out-of-business sales, sidewalk and parking lot sales, seasonal sales such as Christmas trees, pumpkins and plants, auctions and estate sales, walks, runs, bike tours and races. Approval for a Type I event is determined by city staff and requires application submittal a minimum of 10 days prior to the event for review and consideration.
• If your event is a fundraising activity by a nonprofit organization, company picnic, open house, customer appreciation occasion, ribbon cutting, etc., it may qualify as a Registration-Only Special Event instead of requiring a Type 1 Special Event Permit.
• Type 2 Special Event - includes entertainment activities such as concerts, circuses, street fairs, carnivals or festivals. Approval for a Type 2 event is determined by the Governing Body and requires application submittal a minimum of 30 days prior to the event for review and consideration.

How to apply
Complete a Special Event Permit application and submit, along with plans and support documents, to the Department of Community Development for review.

An application for a Type 1 Special Event and a Registration-Only special event must be filed at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date for the event. A Type 2 Special Event application must be filed at least 30 days prior to the event in order to be placed on the Governing Body's agenda for approval. The event will be reviewed for compliance with all City Codes and Standards and compatibility with the surrounding properties. Reviews will also be conducted by Police, Fire, Parks, Legal and the Traffic Division of Public Works.

Additional information is available in the brochure Staging a Special Event at Your Business.

Special event permit restrictions
Each business may have a maximum of four events per calendar year and shopping centers may sponsor three events per calendar year. No single event may exceed six weeks duration (maximum 10 weeks for live plant sales) nor will the combined duration of all events exceed 14 weeks per calendar year.

Fees
Contact City Hall at 913.477.7500 for fee information.

For more information
Email Lonnie Stafford or call 913.477.7727.