Special Events & Permits in Huntington, NY

Huntington maintains 128 local ordinances across all categories, and 5 of those deal specifically with special events & permits. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Huntington falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Commercial Filming on Public Right-of-Way

The Town Attorney's Office can restrict the days and hours a film permit covers, or add other conditions, when a requested Town property or facility already has a conflicting scheduled event on the calendar.

Key details: Authority: Huntington Town Attorney's Office. Trigger: Conflicting scheduled Town event at same location. Tool used: Limits on filming days/hours, added conditions. Fine for violating conditions: $250 to $1,000.

A production company that violates any condition imposed under Chapter 108, including a schedule limitation set under § 108-7(E), is subject under § 108-9(A) to a fine of not less than $250 nor more than $1,000, with each day of continuing violation a separate offense. The Town Attorney may also revoke the permit with forfeiture of fees paid and deny future applications under § 108-9(B).

Street Fair Rules

Running a fair, carnival or outdoor concert in Huntington takes a Town Clerk permit under Chapter 91, capped at six days and two permits per organizer per year. Applications need a bond, insurance and a site plan up to sixty days ahead on public property, and events must shut down by 11 p.m. on weeknights.

Key details: Permit issuer: Town Clerk. Max permit length: 6 days per event. Applicant cap: 2 permits per year. Application deadline: 30 days private / 60 days public land. Application fee: $500 (waived for nonprofits).

Violating Chapter 91, including operating without a permit or beyond permitted hours, exposes the owner, applicant or amusement company to a fine of $250 to $1,500 per offense under § 91-17(A), with every day a violation continues after notice counted as a separate offense. The Town Clerk can also deny, suspend or revoke a permit outright under § 91-13, and § 91-17(B) bars anyone with a violation conviction from a new permit for two years.

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

Parade Permits

Huntington's Superintendent of Highways, not a separate permit office, controls whether a parade or public assemblage can use town streets. Chapter 145 lets the Superintendent temporarily close streets to the public for up to seven consecutive days for parades and similar events under authority delegated by New York Town Law § 130.

Key details: Regulating official: Superintendent of Highways, § 145-1. Max closure length: 7 consecutive days. State authority relied on: Town Law § 130(1),(7),(11),(15). Access protected: Abutting owner ingress/egress, § 145-3. Penalty: $100-$500 fine or 15 days jail.

Using a closed street in a way that unreasonably interferes with the parade or assemblage it was closed for is a violation of Chapter 145 under § 145-4. The penalty is a fine of $100 to $500, imprisonment of up to 15 days, or both, and the Bureau of Administrative Adjudication may impose the same fine range administratively.

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

Park Event Permits

Any group, league or organization that wants to use a Huntington town park for a picnic, gathering, league sport, exhibition, meeting or special event needs a permit from the Director of Parks and Recreation. Applications are due at least thirty days ahead, and most events must carry liability insurance naming the Town as an additional insured.

Key details: Permit types: Special Event, Athletic Field, Picnic Permits. Application deadline: 30 days before event; docs 15 days. Insurance minimum: $1M/person, $2M/occurrence bodily injury. Issuing office: Director of Parks and Recreation. Fine for violation: $50 to $1,000 under § 159-74.

Using park facilities for an event without the required permit, or violating a permit's conditions, is enforced under § 159-74's Chapter 159 penalty scale: a fine of fifty to one thousand dollars on conviction, plus the Director's authority to revoke the permit for violating any condition, restriction or lawful order.

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

Sidewalk Dining & Cafés

A Huntington restaurant, delicatessen or eating establishment that wants tables on the Town sidewalk needs a temporary right-of-way permit from the Director of Engineering Services. The annual permit costs $200, must be renewed every calendar year, and can be pulled after three cited incidents of rowdy behavior, blocked sidewalks or littering.

Key details: Permit fee: $200 per application. Permit term: January 1 through December 31, renewable. Issuing official: Director of Engineering Services. Revocation trigger: 3 cited incidents of rowdy conduct/littering. Insurance: Certificate naming Town as additional insured.

Violating any permit condition, such as blocking sidewalk passage or ignoring an hours-of-operation restriction, is cause for the Director of Engineering Services to revoke the outdoor dining permit outright. Three cited occurrences of rowdy behavior, pedestrian obstruction or littering, in any combination, triggers revocation, and dining without a valid permit removes the establishment's authorization to use the Town's sidewalk entirely.

The Bottom Line

Huntington is tougher than many cities when it comes to special events & permits. Out of the 5 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Huntington, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

All of the above reflects Huntington's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.