Buffalo, NY Special Events & Permits: Block Party Permits (2026)

§ 413-36, added in 1998, carves out a specific exemption for block parties: notwithstanding the encroachment provisions of Chapter 413 or the Special Events Ordinance (Chapter 414) that would otherwise apply, a permit for temporarily closing a street for a block party involving fewer than 3,000 spectators or participants cannot be conditioned on the requester providing the City insurance, a bond, or other indemnification. The City's Chapter 175 fee schedule lists a $24 block party permit fee filed under the Article XIII encroachment fee table, alongside other short-term street-closing fees.

Once a gathering grows past the small-block-party scale, it becomes a 'large number of people' event under § 414-2 (1,500 or more) and, at 3,000 or more, loses the § 413-36 insurance waiver, pushing it into full review by the Special Events Advisory Committee under Chapter 414, including the $1,000,000 liability insurance policy required by § 414-9(B). Reviewing stands or other temporary structures for the closed street may also be placed with the Mayor's consent under § 413-35.