Long Beach, CA Special Events & Permits: Block Party Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Filing deadline
- 10 working days before event
- Petition threshold
- 66% of block's households
- Governing section
- LBMC § 5.60.040(B), (I)(12)
- Decision timeline
- 30 days after complete application
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, 5.60.110
Summary
Block parties in Long Beach need a special event permit like any other street event, but Municipal Code Section 5.60.040 gives them their own shorter 10-working-day filing deadline and requires signatures from two-thirds of the affected block's households before the City Manager will issue one.
Applications shall be filed not less than sixty (60) calendar days, nor more than one (1) year before the time it is proposed to conduct the special event, City may adjust, as needed, except that applications for block party permits shall be filed at least ten (10) working days prior to the event... 12. In the case of a block party or other similar neighborhood event, the applicants have submitted a petition in favor of the event which has been signed by individuals representing at least sixty-six percent (66%) of the households on the block affected by the permit.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 52 Update 1 | City Charter: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
60 special event permit scheme rather than running a separate ordinance for them. 030(A)(3) confirms they don't qualify for the chapter's street-closure exemption, carving block parties and organized fundraisers out of the exception available to other street-based events. Two provisions treat block parties differently from a standard parade or festival application. 120.
Violations & Fines
Holding a block party without the permit, or without meeting the 66% household petition requirement, means the City Manager cannot lawfully issue one under Section 5.60.040(I)(12), and proceeding anyway is an intentional violation of Chapter 5.60 punishable as a misdemeanor under Section 5.60.110.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead do I need to apply for a Long Beach block party permit?
Do my neighbors have to agree before I can get a Long Beach block party permit?
Is a block party treated as a 'special event' under Long Beach's code?
What happens if I hold an unpermitted block party in Long Beach?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Long Beach
California rules heatmap·Compare Long Beach to another location·View the California special events & permits overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Block Party Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle block party permits.