Loudoun County, VA Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Temporary Zoning Permit under § 3.04.E
- Max event duration
- 14 consecutive days
- Max events per lot/year
- 10 non-exempt events
- Spacing between events
- 14 days or 2,000 ft apart
- Residential host site minimum
- 2 gross acres
- Event signage
- Temporary only, needs a sign permit
Summary
Loudoun County requires a temporary Zoning Permit for carnivals, festivals, and similar special events under Zoning Ordinance Section 3.04.E. Approved events run no more than 14 consecutive days, the same lot can't host more than 10 non-exempt special events a year, and a residential site needs at least 2 acres before it can host one.
Special Events. Special events may be permitted in all Zoning Districts on application for a temporary Zoning Permit to the Zoning Administrator, subject to the following standards and requirements. ... 2. Residential Locations. Special events on Residential property must contain a total gross acreage of at least 2 acres. ... 5. Duration of Special Event. A temporary Zoning Permit for a special event authorized pursuant to this section is limited to a maximum duration of 14 consecutive days, unless otherwise specifically authorized or extended by the Zoning Administrator. ... 6. Maximum Number of Non-exempt Special Events. Within any single calendar year, the same lot or Parcel may host no more than 10 special events pursuant to this section. ... b. A minimum of 14 days must lapse between special events on any one lot or Parcel, or the subsequent special event must be a minimum of 2,000 feet from the location of the previous event.
Full Breakdown
E carves out Special Events specifically. Chapter 12 defines a Special Event broadly to include carnivals, festivals, circuses, music fairs or concerts, tent revivals, art and crafts shows, rodeos, corn mazes, civil war reenactments, and equestrian shows. Two narrow carve-outs skip the permit: events already approved as part of a Special Exception use, and events held in the required publicly accessible gathering space of a Transit Related Center, Town Center, or PD-MUB district unless the event needs a stage or other structure. Everyone else applies to the Zoning Administrator for a temporary Zoning Permit.
Residential properties must have at least 2 gross acres to host an event at all. 10. A permit is capped at 14 consecutive days unless the Zoning Administrator specifically extends it, and all structures and materials must be removed within that window. On the frequency side, the same lot or parcel can host no more than 10 non-exempt special events in a calendar year, and successive events need either a 14-day gap or a minimum 2,000-foot separation from the prior event's location.
Violations & Fines
Holding a carnival, festival, or fair without the required temporary Zoning Permit, exceeding the 14-consecutive-day event window without an authorized extension, hosting more than 10 non-exempt events a year on one lot, or leaving event structures and signage up after the approval period puts the operator in violation of Section 3.04.E, exposing them to the county's standard zoning enforcement and civil summons process under Section 10.13.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to hold a street fair or festival in Loudoun County?
How long can a special event run once permitted?
How many festivals can the same property host in a year?
Can a residential property host a street fair?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Loudoun County
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