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Weld County, CO Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Permit trigger
gatherings over 30 people
Maximum event length
3 consecutive days
Frequency cap
4 limited events per property per year
Curfew
no event past midnight
Cleanup bond
$3,000 for 250+ attendees
Insurance minimum
$500,000 certificate required

Summary

Any street fair, festival, or ticketed gathering of more than 30 people on private property in unincorporated Weld County needs a Limited Event Permit under Weld County Code § 23-4-1270 before the Board of County Commissioners will approve it. Events top out at three consecutive days and four per property each year.

City-specific rules exist: Greeley has its own street fair rules rules that differ from Weld County's county-level regulations. If you live in Greeley, check the city-specific page instead.

Unless excepted pursuant to Section 23-4-1280 below, a LIMITED EVENT permit shall be required for any LIMITED EVENT on a PROPERTY where it is anticipated that the overall attendance for an anticipated gathering will exceed thirty (30) persons... A.Each LIMITED EVENT shall be limited to no more than three (3) consecutive days.B.There shall be no more than one (1) LIMITED EVENT allowed on a PROPERTY in a calendar month, and no more than four (4) LIMITED EVENTS in any calendar year.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Charter and County Code: Supplement 95).

Full Breakdown

Weld County Code Division 18 governs LIMITED EVENTS, defined as a gathering of more than 30 paying or ticketed members of the public in all zone districts except the R (Residential) and E (Estate) zones. Section 23-4-1280 exempts gatherings at already-approved venues with proper zoning, such as churches, restaurants, breweries, wineries, and fairgrounds, if attendance stays within 30 people of the venue's seating capacity. Where a permit is required, § 23-4-1290 caps each event at three consecutive days, limits a property to one event per calendar month and four per calendar year, and requires the organizer to attempt contact with neighbors within 500 feet.

The application and fee must reach the Planning Department at least 30 days before the event under § 23-4-1300, referral agencies get ten days to respond, and the Board of County Commissioners decides at a public hearing after mailed notice and a posted sign. Section 23-4-1330 sets detailed performance standards: potable water and toilets sized to the maximum crowd, a daily trash and waste plan with site restoration within 48 hours of the event ending, two EMTs and one ambulance once attendance exceeds 500 (one more EMT per additional 500), a licensed nurse once attendance exceeds 1,000, lighting of at least five foot-candles if the event runs after dark, no event past midnight, no overnight camping, and one nine-foot-wide parking space for every four attendees.

Violations & Fines

Holding a Limited Event without a permit, or violating the Division 18 performance standards, is enforced under Chapter 23, Article X: § 23-10-20 sets a misdemeanor fine of up to $100 per day or up to ten days in jail, and § 23-10-40 allows a civil penalty of $25 to $1,000 per violation with a continuing penalty up to $100 per day. Section 23-4-1330(R) also requires a cleanup guarantee of $3,000 for events over 250 attendees, or $500 for 100 to 250 attendees, held for 30 days after the event.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a church fundraiser or fairgrounds concert need this permit?
No. Section 23-4-1280 exempts gatherings held at already-approved event facilities, churches, restaurants, breweries, wineries, and fairgrounds that have proper zoning for assembly use, provided attendance does not exceed the venue's normal seating capacity by more than 30 people.
How far ahead must I apply for a Weld County event permit?
The completed application and fee must reach the Weld County Planning Department at least 30 days before the event under § 23-4-1300, and the Board of County Commissioners decides the permit at a public hearing after at least ten days' mailed notice to landowners within 500 feet of the property.
What if my festival draws more than 500 people?
Section 23-4-1330(D) requires two certified EMTs and one ambulance on-site once attendance exceeds 500, with one additional EMT for every 500 more attendees, and a licensed practical or registered nurse is required once attendance passes 1,000.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Weld County

All Weld County rules

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