Special Events & Permits in Aurora, CO

If you live in Aurora or are thinking about moving there, special events & permits are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Aurora has 3 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of special events & permits, and some of them might surprise you.

Sidewalk Dining & Cafés

Aurora, Colorado limits restaurant patio seating to approved uses, keeps it 100 feet from R-R/R-1 zoning, and requires a barrier and a clear walkway near the right-of-way.

Key details: Governing instrument: Aurora Unified Development Ordinance. Residential buffer: 100 ft from R-R/R-1 districts. ROW barrier height: 3 ft minimum, see-through. Pedestrian clearway: 6 ft minimum. UDO current through: Ord. 2026-03 (Feb. 23, 2026).

Setting up patio seating without an approved use, inside the 100-foot residential buffer, or without the required right-of-way barrier and pedestrian clearway is a zoning violation enforceable by the City's Neighborhood Services/Planning Department.

Park Event Permits

Aurora parks close from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., but the Parks and Open Space Department issues permits letting groups reserve a park or recreational facility during those otherwise-closed hours for an event or gathering.

Key details: Default closed hours: 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.. Permit issuer: Parks and Open Space Dept.. Max general penalty: $2,650 fine / 364 days jail. Aurora Reservoir events: public access must remain.

Being in or using a park during closed hours without a § 98-56(b) permit, or violating a director-posted hour regulation, is unlawful and falls under the Code's general penalty (§ 1-13): a fine up to $2,650, up to 364 days in jail, or both, with each day a separate offense.

Parade Permits

In Aurora, Colorado, holding an outdoor rally, expressive-activity meeting, or parade on public property requires a permit from the police chief or the parks and open space director before the event.

Key details: Permit required from: Police chief or parks department. Application deadline: At least 21 days before event. Roadway parades: Also need § 146-207 special use permit. Max penalty: $2,650 fine, up to 364 days jail. Applies in: Aurora, Colorado only, not Denver.

No fixed fine is set for Sec. 94-108 itself, so Aurora's general penalty in Sec. 1-13 applies: up to a $2,650 fine, up to 364 days in jail, or both, with each day of an unpermitted event a separate offense.

The Bottom Line

Aurora's special events & permits rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Aurora is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Aurora can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.