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

Sec. 31-3 requires a permit for four categories of park activity: any picnic, outing or gathering of forty or more people sponsored by one person or group; any exhibit, performance, motion picture, broadcast, fair, circus or musical event; any public meeting, assembly or parade, including drills, ceremonies, speeches or political meetings; and any use of a park facility that excludes other members of the public. Under Sec. 1, the director must issue the permit unless the proposed activity would unreasonably interfere with the public's general use of the park, threaten public health, safety or welfare, risk violence, entail extraordinary city expense, conflict with another reservation already on the calendar, or involve fencing off part of the park or charging admission.

Sec. 2 lets the director attach reasonable conditions: restrictions on fires, fireworks, amplified sound, dancing, sports, animals or vehicles; a security deposit for damage or cleanup; a fee for additional security staffing; payment of any required business license tax; extra sanitary or refuse facilities; comprehensive liability insurance naming the city as additional insured; and permittee liability for negligence. Sec. 3 gives the director three days to notify an applicant in writing of a denial or conditions, and the applicant five days to appeal in writing to the city manager, who must rule within four days. Sec. 4 lets the permitting authority revoke a permit for violating any rule, ordinance or permit condition.