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Special Events & Permits in Merced County, CA (2026)

3 rules for unincorporated Merced County, California.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Merced County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Park Event Permits

Renting Hagaman, Henderson, Winton or LeGrand County Park facilities in unincorporated Merced County runs through the Parks and Recreation Division office at 345 W. 7th Street, Merced. Group A meetings get two-year priority booking; everyone else books first-come, first-served up to 12 months out, with a two-week tentative hold before payment locks the date.

Merced County Park Facility Reservation Permits

Some Restrictions

Merced County Code § 5.60.070

A. Reservations for the use of park facilities at Hagaman, Henderson, and Winton County Parks must be made by contacting the parks and recreation division office, located at 345 W. 7th Street, Merced, or by calling (209) 385-7426. ... D. A facility may be tentatively reserved, either in person, by telephone, or written request and held for a period of up to two weeks. An application and agreeme...

Street Fair Rules

Anyone operating an outdoor festival, defined as a periodic outdoor gathering for rock, dance, or theatrical performances, in unincorporated Merced County must obtain a Board of Supervisors license, filed at least 60 days ahead with a $100 application fee and reviewed at a public hearing.

Merced County Outdoor Festival License Rules

Significant Restrictions

Merced County Code Section 6.40.020

It is unlawful for any individual, partnership or corporation to operate, maintain, conduct, advertise, sell or furnish tickets or other types of written authority for admission to an outdoor festival in the unincorporated area of the county, unless he, they or it shall first obtain a license from the county to operate or conduct such festival.

Sidewalk Dining & Cafés

In the Fox Hills Community Specific Plan area of unincorporated Merced County, restaurants may extend outdoor dining onto the public sidewalk only if a six-foot-wide clear pedestrian path stays open and the county issues an Encroachment Permit first. Seating structures can be set back as little as 15 feet from the sidewalk's edge under the CMU commercial zone standards.

Merced County Fox Hills Sidewalk Dining Rules

Some Restrictions

Merced County Zoning Code § 18.22.040(A)(8)

Outdoor Dining. Outdoor dining is permitted to encroach onto sidewalks provided a minimum clear pedestrian way of six feet, not including street furniture and/or street trees, is maintained, and an Encroachment Permit is first obtained. Where sidewalk dining is provided, structures may be set back 15 feet from the back of sidewalk.

All Merced County ordinances

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