Special Events & Permits in Sandy, UT

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

Park Event Permits

Sandy City requires written permission before anyone holds a parade, celebration, or paid activity in a City park or recreation facility, and a reservation with the Parks and Recreation Department controls who gets priority use of a field, court, or pavilion.

Key details: Governing section: Sandy City Code § 13-11-3. Enforcing agency: Parks and Recreation Dept. / Police. Daily open time: 6:00 a.m.. Close time (unlit fields): 10:00 p.m.. Close time (lit fields): 10:30 p.m..

Using a reserved court, field, or facility after being displaced, running a paid activity without a permit, or holding a parade or celebration without written permission violates Section 13-11-3. Written exemptions from closing-hour rules do not excuse other violations of the chapter, and Sandy Police officers have enforcement authority throughout all recreational facilities.

Street Fair Rules

A festival, bazaar, or fair in Sandy needs a temporary use permit under the City's Land Development Code, capped at 15 consecutive days per applicant per calendar year and limited to sites tied to a permanent business, charitable nonprofit, or government entity.

Key details: Governing section: Sandy LDC § 21-11-14. Max duration: 15 consecutive days/year. Application lead time: At least 10 days prior. Cleanup bond: $1,000.00 (or $2,000.00 for malls). Reviewing department: Community Development Department.

Operating a festival beyond the 15 consecutive-day cap, outside permitted zones, without Community Development approval, or without the required $1,000.00 cleanup bond and liability insurance on public property violates Section 21-11-14. The Director may revoke a temporary use permit for failing to maintain the property per submitted plans, with 30 days' written notice before revocation takes effect.

Parade Permits

No parade or procession, other than a funeral, may use a Sandy street without a permit from the City Transportation Engineer and the Chief of Police. Sandy City Code § 14-10-8 requires applications at least five days ahead and lets the City require organizers to pay for their own police supervision.

Key details: Advance filing: At least 5 days before event. Who approves: Transportation Engineer and Chief of Police. Funeral exception: Funeral processions need no permit. Denial standard: Only if public safety endangered. Penalty: Infraction under § 14-3-1.

Holding an unpermitted parade or blocking a public street without the Transportation Engineer's and Police Chief's sign-off violates § 14-10-8 and, under the general Title 14 penalty in § 14-3-1, is punishable as an infraction unless the conduct rises to a greater offense under state or City criminal law. Organizers who skip the five-day filing window risk outright denial of the permit.

The Bottom Line

Sandy'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 Sandy is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Sandy's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.