Special Events & Permits in San Clemente, CA (2026)
6 verified special events & permits rules for San Clemente, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Park Event Permits
Anyone who wants to sell goods, run a business, or offer services inside a San Clemente park, beach, building or trail needs a permit from the Beaches, Parks and Recreation Department first. The Department reviews the goods proposed and the applicant's ability to comply with health and safety rules before approving.
San Clemente Park Facility Use Permit
Some RestrictionsSan Clemente Municipal Code § 12.28.010
Any person wishing to use any City-owned facility, including but not limited to buildings, parks, beaches, and trails, for the purpose of practicing, carrying on, or conducting any commercial business, occupation, or profession, shall apply for a permit to do so by submitting a completed "application for permit to use recreational facilities" form prescribed by the City of San Clemente Departme...
Parade Permits
A parade in San Clemente is a regulated special event: Municipal Code Section 12.34.030 bars conducting or organizing one without a City Manager-issued special event permit. Applications are due 60 calendar days ahead, carry a nonrefundable fee, and permits can be conditioned, denied, revoked or appealed to the City Council.
San Clemente Parade and Special Event Permits
Significant RestrictionsSan Clemente Municipal Code §§ 12.34.020, 12.34.030
"Parade" means a parade, procession, march, demonstration, motorcade, promenade or pageant consisting of persons, animals or vehicles, or any combination thereof, traveling in unison and having a common purpose, design, destination or goal, which is conducted in, on, upon, or along any public street, sidewalk or other property owned or controlled by the City, or any portion thereof, which does ...
Street Fair Rules
A street fair, festival or carnival in San Clemente counts as a 'special event' under Chapter 12.34 and needs a special event permit issued by the City Manager before it can happen. Applications are due at least 60 calendar days ahead, and running one without a permit is unlawful.
San Clemente Street Fair and Festival Permit
Significant RestrictionsSan Clemente Municipal Code § 12.34.020, § 12.34.030, § 12.34.050
"Special event" means: A.Any organized activity, or persons participating in an organized activity having a common purpose on City property for a duration of less than 30 calendar days and involving at any given time during such period 50 or more persons, or involving 20 or more persons in a small City park; ... The following list of examples is illustrative, but not determinative, of activitie...
Commercial Filming on Public Right-of-Way
San Clemente's Filming Coordinator can deny a commercial filming permit under Section 5.44.050(C) when the city has already issued a special-event permit for the same site and the proposed filming would be incompatible with that approved event.
San Clemente Filming vs Special Event Conflict
Some RestrictionsSan Clemente Municipal Code § 5.44.050(C)
A filming permit may be denied if it is determined, from consideration of the application and other pertinent information in the record, that one or more of the following circumstances exists: ... C.The City has both issued a permit authorizing the proposed filming site to be used for a special event or other filming activity and the Filming Coordinator determines that the proposed filming acti...
Parklets
San Clemente's temporary parklet program, adopted under state AB 1217, lets restaurants convert curbside parking into outdoor dining through a ministerial Parklet Permit. Parklets are capped at 24 seats per business, alcohol service ends by 9 or 10 p.m. depending on the night, and the whole program sunsets July 1, 2026.
San Clemente Temporary Parklet Dining Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Clemente Municipal Code § 17.28.206(A)-(B), (D)(a)(i)(1), (D)(b)(iii)(3)
A.Purpose and Intent. . ... .The temporary parklet regulations and design standards are established under State enabling legislation (AB 1217), which allow local agencies to adopt a program to support local business recovery from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic by providing relief from parking restrictions to accommodate outdoor dining.B This Section models the State's intent to allow f...
Sidewalk Dining & Cafés
Restaurants that want to put tables on a San Clemente sidewalk need a Minor Conditional Use Permit for up to 16 seats and four tables, or a full Conditional Use Permit above that, plus a separate Encroachment Permit under Chapter 12.20. The public path of travel must stay at least five feet wide.
San Clemente Sidewalk Dining Permits
Some RestrictionsSan Clemente Municipal Code § 17.28.205(C)(2), (E)(8)
2.Outdoor Dining on Public Property. The following procedures are required to allow outdoor dining areas on public property, such as sidewalks: ... b.Number of Outdoor Seats. A Minor Conditional Use Permit is required to allow outdoor dining areas with a maximum of 16 seats and four tables. A Conditional Use Permit is required to allow outdoor dining areas with more than 16 seats and four table...
Looking for Orange County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Clemente city rules.
Special Events & Permits in Orange County →