Special Events & Permits in Somerville, MA

Somerville maintains 147 local ordinances across all categories, and 3 of those deal specifically with special events & permits. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Somerville falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Sidewalk Dining & Cafés

Somerville restaurants need a Licensing Commission permit to put outdoor seating on the public sidewalk, must post a $5,000 bond or add the city as an additional insured, and the permit expires every December 31 regardless of when it was issued during the year.

Key details: Permitting authority: Somerville Licensing Commission. Eligibility: Only establishments already licensed by the commission. Required bond: $5,000 or additional-insured status. Permit expiration: December 31 every year, regardless of issue date. Violation fine: $50.00 per offense.

Placing outdoor seating on a public sidewalk without a Licensing Commission permit, or operating outside the terms of an issued permit, is a $50.00 offense under the code's fine schedule for projections over a street or sidewalk (sections 12-14 and 12-15), enforced by police, the commissioner of public works and inspectional services; unpermitted structures can also be removed by the highway superintendent under section 12-19.

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

Park Event Permits

Groups wanting to use a Somerville park or playground between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., such as for an athletic event, must first get a permit from the city council under Sec. 12-49. Normal daytime park use is instead permitted through the commissioner of public works.

Key details: Governing section: Code of Ordinances Sec. 12-49. Permit issuer: Somerville City Council. Applies to hours: 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.. Daytime reservations: Permit from commissioner of public works (Sec. 12-50). Default fine if unpermitted: $300.00 (Sec. 1-11(a)).

Using a park or playground after 10:00 p.m. without a city council permit is treated as a violation of the closed-hours rule in Sec. 12-48, subject to the Code's general penalty of $300.00 per offense under Sec. 1-11(a). Interfering with a space properly reserved under a valid permit is separately punishable under Sec. 12-50.

Street Fair Rules

Any carnival, circus, festival, fiesta, or street fair in Somerville needs a mayor-issued license or permit, and it can't happen on public or private property anywhere in the city without the city council separately signing off. Organizers must also indemnify the city against any lawsuit tied to the event, and the license is limited to nonprofit educational, charitable, religious, or philanthropic groups.

Key details: Who can apply: Nonprofit educational/charitable/religious/philanthropic orgs only. Approval needed: Mayor's license/permit plus city council sign-off. Required insurance: City named as additional insured; indemnification required. Banned location: Lincoln Park and all other city parks/playgrounds. Penalty: $300.00 per offense under Sec. 1-11.

Running a carnival, circus, festival, or street fair without the required mayoral license and city council approval, or holding one at Lincoln Park or another city park despite the ban in subsection (b), is punishable under subsection (c) by the general Section 1-11 penalty, which defaults to $300.00 per offense unless a specific higher fine applies, with each day of an unpermitted event counted separately.

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

The Bottom Line

Somerville is tougher than many cities when it comes to special events & permits. Out of the 3 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Somerville, 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 Somerville 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.