Rochester Hills, MI Special Events & Permits: Block Party Permits (2026)

Section 94-45 lets the director issue revocable street occupancy permits, and subsection (4) sets the rules for closing the vehicle use area of a street. While closing a street for the sale of goods or services requires city council approval on top of the director's permit, subsection (4)(b) carves out block parties: council approval is not required when the permit is for an event such as a block party held in a street on no more than one consecutive day. The block party permit still has to satisfy the general standards in section 94-45(1): the occupancy cannot unreasonably interfere with pedestrian or vehicular travel, cannot reduce a sidewalk or pathway below six feet in width, cannot interfere with street cleaning or snow removal, and cannot damage trees, benches or landscaping in the right-of-way.

Applicants pay the permit fee set in section 54-590 and must file a certificate of insurance in an amount the director deems reasonable, per section 94-45(3). The director can revoke the permit for noncompliance without refunding the fee, and a resident refused a permit, or whose permit is revoked, can request a hearing before the mayor within five days, with a further appeal to the city council.