Santa Ana, CA Special Events & Permits: Park Event Permits (2026)

The Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Agency (PRCSA) administers event permits for all City of Santa Ana parks, the Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park, and the Eddie West Field athletic complex. Any organized outdoor gathering on park property that involves reserved areas, amplified sound, temporary structures, food service, or anticipated attendance beyond normal park use requires a special event permit. The City classifies events by size: minor events host up to 100 attendees, moderate events host between 101 and 1,000 attendees, and major events exceed 1,001 attendees. Each tier has progressively more stringent requirements for insurance, security, sanitation, and agency review. All applications and event site plans must be submitted between 90 days and one year before the first event date. Applications should be emailed to specialevents@santa-ana.org along with all supplemental documents. The City coordinates review among Police, Fire, Public Works, and Planning departments for larger events. Events involving food preparation or sales must comply with OC Health Care Agency regulations. Alcohol service requires additional permitting. The City may require liability insurance naming the City of Santa Ana as an additional insured, depending on event size and risk profile.