Eagan, MN Special Events & Permits: Block Party Permits (2026)

Subd. 2 defines a 'block party' as a festive gathering on a public street requiring closure or restriction of that street, or part of it, to vehicular traffic, covering street dances, barbecues, picnics, music, games and similar gatherings. The same definition carves out an exception: a block party in a residential neighborhood that is hosted and attended by the occupants of the properties along the right-of-way where it occurs is not deemed a 'block party' requiring the city clerk's special event permit, provided a block party permit has been issued by the director of public works under rules and regulations for neighborhood block parties adopted by the city council.

That creates a lighter, administrative approval track through public works instead of the city clerk's full special event process, with its 60-day filing deadline, insurance and indemnification requirements, and service-fee deposit under Subds. 4 and 5. The distinction matters for enforcement: Subd. 8(C) makes it unlawful for anyone to take part in an assemblage within the vehicular travel portion of a public right-of-way unless it is connected to an event for which either a special event permit or a block party permit has been issued, and provided participants are not otherwise defying a police officer's traffic direction.

A resident block party that skips both the neighborhood block party permit and the city clerk's special event permit therefore exposes participants to the same street-assemblage violation as an unpermitted festival or race.