Davis, CA Special Events & Permits: Block Party Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit type
- Revocable street use permit
- Issuing authority
- Davis Police Chief
- Basis for grant
- Safety of street users during closure
- Block party named
- Qualifying "special event" (§26.04.010)
- Related permit
- Separate open-container permit if serving alcohol
- Appeal
- To city manager, 5 business days
- Default penalty
- Up to $1,000/6 months (§1.01.110)
Summary
Davis lets residents close a street for a block party or similar neighborhood gathering only with a police chief-issued street use permit, revocable at the city's discretion. The same 'special event' definition used for the open-container ordinance names a neighborhood block party as a qualifying activity.
Special eventincludes, but is not limited to, the following types of activities: a neighborhood block party, barbecue, picnic, fundraiser, community event or any other type of similar social event. ... (a) Upon proper written application on a form prescribed by the city, the police chief may grant a revocable permit for the temporary closing or use of any portion of any street for celebrations, local special events, and other purposes when, in the opinion of the police chief, the closing or regulated use is necessary for the safety and protection of persons who are to use that portion of the street during the temporary closing and/or use. (b) Any person aggrieved by the action of the police chief pursuant to this section may, within five business days of the decision of the police chief, appeal the police chief's determination to the city manager.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4915048; v22 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
01 (In General) of the Streets and Sidewalks chapter, lets the police chief grant a revocable permit for the temporary closing or use of any portion of a city street for celebrations, local special events and similar purposes, on proper written application on a city-prescribed form, whenever the chief decides the closure or restricted use is necessary to protect the safety of the people who will use that stretch of street during the closure. The permit can be revoked, and the article does not set a minimum lead time or a fee schedule of its own for the underlying street closure; those details are left to the application form and, for related activity, the city's master fee schedule referenced elsewhere in the code.
040, filed with the police department alongside the street use application, with resident notice required at least sixteen business days ahead for events of eleven or more people. Anyone unhappy with the police chief's decision on the street closure itself, whether a denial or a condition attached to the permit, can appeal to the city manager in writing within five business days of the decision.
Violations & Fines
Section 35.01.060 does not set its own fine for closing or using a street without the required permit. Absent a more specific penalty, an unpermitted street closure falls under the citywide default in § 1.01.110: a fine of up to one thousand dollars, imprisonment up to six months, or both, with each day the unauthorized closure continues counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I close my street for a block party in Davis?
Do I need a separate permit to serve alcohol at my street-closure block party?
What if the police chief denies my street closure request?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Davis
California rules heatmap·Compare Davis to another location·View the California special events & permits overview
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Block Party Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Yolo County handle block party permits.