Brentwood, CA Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)

Brentwood defines a 'special event' in Municipal Code Section 7.01.020 as any event scheduled to take place, in whole or in part, on city property, expressly including events conducted on a city street, sidewalk, alley, or other right-of-way, which covers a typical downtown street fair or festival. Section 7.02.020 requires the organizer to submit an application to the parks and recreation department, which reviews it alongside other city departments and approves or denies it administratively; the parks and recreation director can grant a permit for up to twelve months if the event will not be detrimental to the health, safety, and welfare of people living or working nearby.

Approval comes loaded with conditions: the organizer must provide a certificate of insurance acceptable to the city's risk manager, post a cash deposit, performance bond, or other surety to guarantee site restoration, sign an indemnification agreement protecting the city from event-related claims, arrange adequate parking as determined by city staff, and get county health department sign-off for any food service beyond what existing on-site businesses already provide. Amplified sound and other noise-generating activities at the event are subject to Chapter 9.32, the city's noise ordinance, and the chief of police can shut the event down if safety conditions are not met. Emergency activities and events already held at an approved public assembly site, such as a school or theater, are exempt from needing a separate special event permit under Section 7.02.020(G).

A denied application, or a condition the applicant disputes, can be appealed in writing to the city manager within ten days of the decision, and the city manager's ruling on that appeal is final.