Special Events & Permits in Virginia Beach, VA (2026)
5 verified special events & permits rules for Virginia Beach, Virginia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Block Party Permits
Virginia Beach requires a special event permit from the city manager for any block party, parade, or gathering of 200 or more people that uses public streets, sidewalks, or the boardwalk.
Virginia Beach Block Party & Street Closure Permits
Some RestrictionsVirginia Beach City Code § 4-1(a)(1), (8)
No person or entity shall hold, organize or sponsor any of the following events or activities unless a permit therefor has been granted by the city:(1)Parades, processions, marathons, bicycle races and other events utilizing the sidewalks or vehicular travel portion of city streets and highways, or the boardwalk...(8)Scheduled gatherings of two hundred (200) or more persons on any public proper...
Park Event Permits
Any city park gathering expected to draw 200 or more people, or one that requires altering the park's normal operations, needs a permit from the Parks and Recreation director before it can happen.
Virginia Beach Park Event Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsVirginia Beach City Code § 24-6(a)
No person shall hold, organize, or sponsor any assemblage or gathering (hereinafter "event") in any city park (i) that will be attended by two hundred (200) or more persons, or (ii) that, regardless of the number of persons anticipated to be in attendance, will require the normal operations of the city park to be altered, unless a permit therefor has been granted by the director of parks and re...
Parade Permits
Any parade or procession on a Virginia Beach street requires a permit from the city manager under City Code § 33-9.1, with exceptions only for military, police, fire, and funeral processions.
Parade and Procession Permits in Virginia Beach
Significant RestrictionsVirginia Beach City Code § 33-9.1
No procession or parade, excepting the forces of the United States Army or Navy, the military forces of the state, the forces of the police and fire departments of the city and funeral processions, shall occupy, march or proceed along any street or highway in the City, except in accordance with a permit issued by the city manager and such other regulations as are set forth in Chapter 21 which m...
Street Fair Rules
Virginia Beach charges $300 per event day plus 1% of gross admissions for carnivals, street fairs, and tent shows, requires a city manager permit before any license issues, and holds a $500 cash deposit against the receipts-based tax.
Street Fair & Carnival License in Virginia Beach
Significant RestrictionsVirginia Beach City Code § 18-67(a),(e)
For every carnival, street fair or tent show...there shall be paid the following license tax for each day or part thereof: $300.00 and, in addition thereto, one percent of the gross receipts...received from all admissions to such carnival, street fair or tent show and all side shows and amusements operated in connection therewith; ... No license shall be issued under this section unless there i...
Sidewalk Dining & Cafés
Virginia Beach requires a written encroachment agreement for outdoor cafes on public sidewalks, and Oceanfront Resort or Resort Tourist District cafes need city council franchise approval under the Resort Open Air Café Guidelines.
Sidewalk Cafe License Requirements in Virginia Beach
Significant RestrictionsVirginia Beach City Code § 33-114.3
(a)The city manager or his designee may...enter into written agreements allowing encroachments...by outdoor cafes...that are expressly allowed by the regulations of the district in which they are located...(c)...open-air cafes on public property in the OR Oceanfront Resort District or the RT-1 or RT-3 Resort Tourist Districts shall require the approval of the city council pursuant to franchise ...