Special Events & Permits in Mountain View, CA (2026)
6 verified special events & permits rules for Mountain View, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Block Party Permits
Mountain View has no separate block-party ordinance; any organized use of a public street, defined broadly as a "parade" to include any similar display upon a street, requires a parade permit from the chief of police, City Code Sec. 22.2-22.3. Applications are due 90 days to a year ahead, with a fast track for free-speech events.
Street Event Permits in Mountain View
Significant RestrictionsMountain View, CA, City Code Sec. 22.2; Sec. 22.3; Sec. 22.4
Parade. Any parade, march, ceremony, show, exhibition, pageant, or procession of any kind, or any similar display in or upon any street, park, or other public place in the city...No person shall engage in, participate in, aid, form, or start any parade unless a parade permit shall first have been obtained from the chief of police pursuant to the provisions of this chapter...An application for a...
Park Event Permits
Reserving a Mountain View park or recreational facility for a private event, gathering over fifty people, or a fundraiser requires a permit from the Community Services Department under City Code Sec. 38.3. The department must decide within fourteen days, and denials can be appealed to a city manager-designated hearing officer.
Mountain View Park Event Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsMountain View, CA City Code Sec. 38.3 (Permit or reservation for use: Application, standards, liability, revocation)
A permit shall be obtained from the community services department for use of any park or area therein in accordance with Sec. 38.2.1. ... b.Action on application. The community services director may grant or deny such application on or before fourteen (14) days after the filing of the application unless the time for such granting or denial of the permit has been waived by the applicant in writi...
Parade Permits
Mountain View requires a parade permit from the chief of police before any parade, march, or public procession on city streets. Sec. 22.3 exempts funeral processions, supervised school activities, and government agencies. Applications must be filed 90 days to a year ahead, though free-speech and religious-expression parades may file as little as five days before the event.
Mountain View Parade Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsMountain View, CA, City Code Sec. 22.3 (Permit Required)
No person shall engage in, participate in, aid, form, or start any parade unless a parade permit shall first have been obtained from the chief of police pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. 1.Exceptions. This chapter shall not apply to:a.Funeral processions;b.Students going to and from school, classes, or participating in educational activities, providing such conduct is under the immed...
Street Fair Rules
A special event with four or more mobile vendors, or single-property vending exceeding four hours in a day, needs a temporary use permit under City Code Sec. 15.28 before it can operate, on top of the mobile vendor permits each participating vendor already carries.
Mountain View Street Fair Vendor Permits
Significant RestrictionsMountain View, CA, City Code Sec. 15.28 (Temporary Use Permit Required); Sec. 15.12 (Special Event Defined)
SEC. 15.28. - Temporary use permit required. To hold a special event, as defined in Sec. 15.12 of this chapter, a temporary use permit must first be obtained pursuant to the provisions of Sec. 36.46 of the City Code. ... Special event. "Special event" shall mean any event or location, other than on a street or sidewalk, on any individual property at which four (4) or more mobile vendors are ope...
Parklets
A downtown Mountain View business cannot set up a parklet-style outdoor dining or merchandise area in the public right-of-way without a city-issued Outdoor Patio License under City Code Sec. 27.17. Licenses run July 1 to June 30, are nontransferable, must be renewed 30 days before expiration, and can be suspended for special events or street work.
Mountain View Downtown Outdoor Patio License
Significant RestrictionsMountain View, CA, City Code Sec. 27.17 (Outdoor Patios in the Downtown Area)
No person shall operate an Outdoor Patio upon the public right-of-way in the Downtown Area without first obtaining a city-issued Outdoor Patio License. An Outdoor Patio License shall only be issued for Permitted Activities in the Downtown Area and in conformance with the Outdoor Patio Standards/Guidelines... All Outdoor Patio Licenses shall be issued for a one (1) year term beginning July 1 and...
Sidewalk Dining & Cafés
A downtown Mountain View restaurant cannot set tables on the public sidewalk without a city-issued Outdoor Patio License. The Public Works Director administers the program under City Code Sec. 27.17, and licenses run on an annual July-to-June term that must be renewed every year.
Mountain View Outdoor Patio License
Significant RestrictionsMountain View, CA City Code Sec. 27.17 (Outdoor patios in the downtown area)
No person shall operate an Outdoor Patio upon the public right-of-way in the Downtown Area without first obtaining a city-issued Outdoor Patio License. ... All Outdoor Patio Licenses shall be conditioned upon the Outdoor Patio Licensee's obligation to remove or modify the Outdoor Patio at any time and at Outdoor Patio Licensee's expense as necessary for any special events, city project, street ...
Looking for Santa Clara County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Mountain View city rules.
Special Events & Permits in Santa Clara County →