Coeur d'Alene, ID Special Events & Permits: Block Party Permits (2026)

Chapter 10.60 of the Coeur d'Alene Municipal Code calls a block party a block watch event: any gathering sponsored solely by owners, residents or tenants of properties fronting a street that closes the entire street, or a portion of it, to vehicular traffic so the street can be used for the gathering. Section 10.60.020 requires a permit from the City Clerk. Section 10.60.130 A allows local streets not exceeding one City block or one intersection to be temporarily closed, on four conditions: at least two-thirds of the area abutting the street or intersection is residentially zoned and the purpose is consistent with residential zoning regulations; a valid permit is in hand; the applicant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the City and its officers and employees; and the applicant agrees to clean all debris and litter from the street and sidewalks within 4 hours after the event.

The host has more to do before the closure. All abutting or adjacent property owners, plus the owners of the corner lots immediately across the intersection from the closure, must be notified of the event and of the right to file a written objection with the City Clerk (section 10.60.130 B). The applicant needs an approved traffic control plan and is solely responsible for obtaining, placing and removing barricades or traffic control devices (section 10.60.130 C).

The permit process follows the rest of the chapter. The application is filed no less than 21 days and no more than one year ahead of the event (section 10.60.040 B). The permit fee and security deposit are waived for block watch events under section 10.60.050, and section 10.60.060 B exempts block watch events from the limit on events per calendar day. Proof of $1,000,000 in liability insurance naming the City is required before any permit issues (section 10.60.105). No permit is issued for an activity that starts before 7:00 A.M. or ends after 10:00 P.M. (section 10.60.120 B). A denial or a conditional approval is appealed in writing within 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays (section 10.60.090).