South Bend, IN Special Events & Permits: Block Party Permits (2026)

Sec. 14-159 defines a block party (also called a residential block party) as a public assembly sponsored solely by and limited to the actual residents of a block or blocks on a certain street. The Article's event-classification scheme places block parties in Tier I ('Neighborhood'), covering events expected to draw 500 people or fewer from within the immediate neighborhood. Under Sec. 14-160, anyone who conducts, manages, promotes, organizes, aids or solicits attendance at a special event, including a block party, must obtain a special event permit from the City's Special Event Committee, a five-member body with appointees from the Mayor, the Streets Director, the Public Works Director, the Police Chief and the Fire Chief.

Sec. 14-163 sets the filing window for Tier I applications at no less than 45 days and no more than 180 days before the event date; applications filed less than 30 days out cannot be accepted at all, and the 45-day deadline can only be shortened through the Committee's waiver process, which triggers a doubled 'expediting fee' under Sec. 14-164. 00, and Sec. 00 Tier II/III fee, which does allow a multi-event discount. The Committee can deny, condition or revoke a block party permit for reasons listed in Sec.

14-161(e), including false information, an incomplete application, an untimely filing, or scheduling that would unreasonably disrupt traffic circulation. A denial or an imposed condition can be appealed to the Board of Public Works within three business days.