Bellingham, WA Special Events & Permits: Block Party Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Attendance cap
- 300 people
- Street closure cap
- 1 block
- Duration cap
- 8 daylight hours
- Waives
- Fees, insurance, indemnification
Summary
Small block parties in Bellingham skip special-event fees, insurance, and indemnification if they draw 300 people or fewer, close one residential block or less, and run 8 daylight hours or under.
Block parties meeting all of the following criteria shall not be required to pay review fees or provide indemnification or insurance: a. The block party has an anticipated attendance of 300 people or fewer; and b. The block party will close off a residential street segment no more than one block in length, or a sidewalk or alley abutting a park, or an unopened right-of-way; and c. The block party will occur during daylight hours for a duration of eight hours or less; and d. The block party does not require police service for crowd control.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-06-015, passed June 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
BMC 13.13.040(B)(2) exempts qualifying block parties from the special event permit's review fee, indemnification, and insurance requirements, though a permit is still required. To qualify, the block party must expect 300 or fewer attendees, close off no more than one block of a residential street (or a sidewalk/alley abutting a park, or an unopened right-of-way), occur during daylight hours for eight hours or less, and require no police crowd-control service. Larger or longer closures fall under the full special event permit process in BMC 13.13.050 through 13.13.100.
Violations & Fines
A block party exceeding 300 attendees, running past 8 hours, closing more than one block, or requiring police crowd control loses the fee/insurance waiver and must meet the full special event permit requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I still need a permit for a small block party?
Can a block party run into the evening?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bellingham
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