Manchester, NH Special Events & Permits: Block Party Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Special event license from City Clerk
- Nonprofit fee
- $15 per day
- Other applicant fee
- $100 per day
- Enforcing office
- City Clerk's office
- Penalty
- Separate offense per day violated
Summary
Manchester requires a special event license from the City Clerk for any block party, race, or gathering that closes a public street, park, or public place.
No person shall conduct or allow to be conducted any entertainment, public dancing or hold a special event which is not part of the regular and recurrent business activity of the owner or operator of the room or space within the city unless a license shall first be obtained from the City Clerk.
(C) (1) Notwithstanding any other licensing ordinance, a duly licensed establishment in the city may allow dancing and entertainment upon obtaining an annual entertainment place of assembly license from the city at no charge.
(2) The application for a entertainment place of assembly license shall be made to the City Clerk upon forms to be determined by the City Clerk, the licensee shall be liable for any applicable police officer's fee and the license shall expire annually on April 30. (Ord. passed 1-17-95; Am. Ord. passed 3-7-95; Am. Ord. passed 10-4-05; Am. Ord. passed 4-18-17) Penalty, see § 111.99 Cross-reference: Business license fees, see § 110.20
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-25: current through Ord. passed 6-3-2025).
Full Breakdown
Manchester's Code of Ordinances defines a SPECIAL EVENT as a daily event requiring the closure of a public street, or the use or closure of another public place or park, that involves public entry, vending, entertainment, or a moving athletic event like a race or walk. Organizers of any such event, commercial or nonprofit, must obtain a license from the City Clerk before holding it. The license fee is $15 per day for qualifying nonprofit events and $100 per day for all other applicants. Violating the licensing requirement is a separate offense for each day it continues, and the city can recover its attorney fees and court costs from responsible parties.
Violations & Fines
Holding an unlicensed special event is a separate violation each day it continues; the city may also recover its attorney fees and investigative costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to close my street for a block party in Manchester?
How much does a Manchester special event license cost?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Manchester
Compare Manchester to another location·View the New Hampshire special events & permits overview
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