Manitou Springs, CO Special Events & Permits: Block Party Permits (2026)

Section 12.24.020 defines a block party as a festive gathering on a residential street requiring the closure of a street or a portion of it to vehicular traffic, covering activities like barbecues, picnics, music or games; that definition folds the block party into the broader special event category, which explicitly lists block parties alongside parades, races and fundraisers. Section 12.24.030(A) requires anyone who wants to hold a special event on public property, including a residential street, to get a special event permit from the city first.

Because closing a street to hold the party interferes with or obstructs a public right-of-way, a block party meets the code's definition of a major special event under § 12.24.020, which under § 12.24.040(D) must be filed with the city not less than six months nor more than one year before the date, longer than the 90-day window for a minor special event that does not close a street. The application must include a site map, a waste and clean-up plan, the estimated number of participants and vehicles, and details of any amplified sound, and it must come with a nonrefundable application fee plus a deposit set by City Council that is refunded once the street is cleaned and restored under § 12.24.100.

The events coordinator can deny the permit under § 12.24.050 if, among other grounds, another event is already booked for the same time and place or the closure would substantially disrupt traffic, but denial must be explained in writing with an appeal right.