Special Events & Permits in Yakima, WA

If you live in Yakima 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. Yakima has 4 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of special events & permits, and some of them might surprise you.

Sidewalk Dining & Cafés

Operating a sidewalk cafe on a public right-of-way in Yakima requires a written permit from the code administration manager, plus a $50 fee, insurance and an annual renewal.

Key details: Permit fee: $50, nonrefundable. Term: 1 year, nontransferable. Insurance minimum: $100,000 per incident. Pedestrian space required: Half of sidewalk width. Issuing office: Code administration manager.

Operating without a permit, letting litter accumulate in the cafe area, blocking more than half the sidewalk width for pedestrians, or violating permit conditions is unlawful and can be prosecuted as a public nuisance in Yakima County Superior Court; the code administration manager may also revoke the permit on 30 days' written notice.

Parade Permits

Parades and other special events on Yakima streets or public property need a special event permit from the city's economic development manager before they can happen.

Key details: Permit issuer: Economic development manager. New-event lead time: 6-month preapplication meeting. Application deadline: 45 days before event. Exemptions: City park events, funerals, block parties.

Conducting or promoting a special event, including a parade, without a permit is unlawful under YMC § 9.70.270; a handful of small or city-run events are exempt.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Yakima actively enforces its parade permits requirements.

Street Fair Rules

Yakima requires a special event permit before any street fair or festival, and only vendors authorized under that permit can sell goods, food, or drinks at the event.

Key details: Permit required from: Economic development manager. Application deadline: 45 days before event. Vendor requirement: Displayed event authorization. Food vendors: Health district permit required.

Vending without displayed event authorization is unlawful under YMC § 9.70.290; running the event itself without a permit is a misdemeanor under YMC § 9.70.310, fineable up to $500 and 90 days.

Block Party Permits

Yakima carves block parties out of its full special event permit process: YMC § 9.70.030(b)(10) exempts them from the standard special-event application but still requires organizers to go through "a separate, streamlined city process," and public-safety compliance and enforcement still apply.

Key details: Full special-event permit: Not required for block parties. Still required: Separate, streamlined city process. 45-day filing deadline: Doesn't apply to block parties. Unauthorized closure penalty: Up to $500 / 90 days. Public safety compliance: Still mandatory under § 9.70.030(a).

Running a block party as an unpermitted street closure, rather than through the streamlined process required by § 9.70.030(b)(10), exposes the organizer to YMC § 9.70.310(b)'s general chapter penalty: a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500, up to 90 days in jail, or both. The city can also bill the organizer for its response costs under § 9.70.300 if the unauthorized closure required a public-safety response.

The rules around block party permits in Yakima lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

The Bottom Line

Yakima'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 Yakima is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Yakima 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.