Arapahoe County, CO Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Annual day cap
- 30 days per year for a fair or carnival
- Permit required
- Temporary Use Permit, LDC § 5-5.3
- Revocation notice
- 10 days' written notice + hearing
- Emergency revocation
- Immediate, no notice, if public safety at risk
- Jurisdiction
- Unincorporated county land only
Summary
A fair or carnival on unincorporated Arapahoe County land can't run more than 30 days in one calendar year. LDC § 3-3.13.B sets that flat cap, and the use still needs a Temporary Use Permit under Section 5-5.3 before it can operate at all.
B. TEMPORARY FAIR OR CARNIVAL A fair or carnival shall not exceed 30 days in one year.
Full Breakdown
13 section show how the county treats similar temporary events, capping temporary seasonal tent/sidewalk sales at 30 days per calendar year per shopping center and outdoor farmers' markets to specific months and permitted hours. 3(10), the Zoning Administrator or Board of County Commissioners can revoke the permit after 10 days' written notice and a hearing if a condition goes unmet, the permit was obtained by misrepresentation, or the use violates any statute, ordinance, or regulation; a revocation can happen immediately, without notice or a hearing, if the event poses an immediate danger to public health, safety, or welfare.
Because the LDC only governs unincorporated county land, a fair or carnival inside Aurora, Centennial, Littleton, or any other incorporated city within Arapahoe County falls under that city's own code instead.
Violations & Fines
Running a fair or carnival past the 30-day annual cap, or operating one without an approved Temporary Use Permit under Section 5-5.3, exposes the event to permit revocation by the Zoning Administrator or Board of County Commissioners: normally after 10 days' written notice and a hearing, or immediately if the operation endangers public health, safety, or welfare per Section 5-5.3(10).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days can a fair or carnival run on unincorporated Arapahoe County land?
Do I need a permit to hold a carnival on my property in the county?
Can the county shut down a fair or carnival that's already running?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arapahoe County
Compare Arapahoe County to another location·View the Colorado special events & permits overview
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