Camarillo's Special Events & Permits: The Rules That Matter

If you live in Camarillo 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. Camarillo has 3 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of special events & permits, and some of them might surprise you.

Street Fair Rules

Camarillo requires a special event permit before any street fair, carnival, or outdoor market can occupy a city right-of-way, sidewalk, or parking lot, under Municipal Code Section 19.63.020(B)(1)(c). The Department of Planning and Community Development reviews the application under Section 19.63.030, weighing traffic, parking, and aesthetic impacts before approving, conditioning, or denying it.

Key details: Permit required for: Street fairs, carnivals, markets. Reviewing department: Planning & Community Development. Review factors: Traffic, parking, aesthetics, hours. Nonprofit right-of-way cap: 1 event per calendar year. Security deposit: Required for carnivals.

Running a street fair, carnival, or outdoor market without an approved special event permit violates Section 19.63.020(A)'s exclusive-use requirement and is enforceable under the citywide general penalty scheme in Chapter 1.12: an infraction escalates from a $100 fine on a first offense to $500 for repeat violations of the same section within a year, or a misdemeanor conviction can bring up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail. The city may also withhold or draw on the required security deposit if materials are not removed after the event.

This is one of the stricter rules in Camarillo's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Parade Permits

Camarillo requires a city council-issued permit before anyone holds, or even joins, a parade, procession, or other public-street assemblage or demonstration, under Municipal Code Section 11.60.010. Applicants file a written request with the city manager, and parades are separately listed as a permitted special event under Section 19.63.020, subject to the review process in Section 19.63.030.

Key details: Permit issuer: City council. Application filed with: City manager. Covers: Parades, processions, demonstrations. Liability extends to: Organizers and participants. Related permit: Special event permit, Sec. 19.63.020.

Holding or joining an unpermitted parade violates Title 11 of the code and is enforceable through the citywide general penalty scheme in Chapter 1.12: a misdemeanor carries up to a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail, while an infraction escalates from $100 on a first offense to $500 for repeat violations of the same section within a year. The city attorney may also seek civil injunctive relief to stop an unpermitted assemblage.

Compared to other cities, Camarillo takes a harder line on parade permits. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Park Event Permits

Anyone wanting to hold an event on Camarillo's named city properties that involves an otherwise-banned park activity, from amplified sound to after-hours use, must get a special events permit approved under Chapter 19.63 first.

Key details: Governing section: CMC § 10.44.030. Permit required under: Chapter 19.63. Applies to: Any Section 10.44.020 prohibited act. Properties covered: Constitution Park, Dizdar Park, Library exterior, F-Canyon. Adopted: Ord. No. 1142, 6-14-2017.

Conducting a Section 10.44.020 activity on the covered city property without an approved special events permit is itself the violation defined by Section 10.44.030, subjecting the organizer or participants to citation and removal from the property under the same enforcement path as the underlying prohibited act.

Compared to other cities, Camarillo takes a harder line on park event permits. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

Camarillo is tougher than many cities when it comes to special events & permits. Out of the 3 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Camarillo, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

Keep in mind that Camarillo 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.