Burien, WA Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)

BMC 5.05.091(1) exempts a person who operates a business in conjunction with nonprofit community festivals, as approved by the city manager or designee, when all three criteria are met: the business does not operate within the city more than three consecutive days, does not operate within the city more than 12 days in a calendar year, and is authorized to participate by the festival sponsor. Under subsection (2), anyone claiming the exemption registers with the city on a form prescribed by the city manager or designee each time he or she engages in business, so the city can track the number of days.

Peddlers at festivals have a parallel path in BMC 5.10.020(1). Peddlers at a city-sponsored or authorized civic event for a period not to exceed five consecutive days are not prohibited, so long as each peddler's name, address and telephone number reach the city in advance. A Saturday market or other city-sponsored or approved activity qualifies if it does not occur more than one time per week for more than five months of each calendar year, with the same advance information. Sellers of farm produce they raised are exempt from the business license under 5.05.090(2).

Event organizers face a separate layer: BMC 5.10.030(1) requires a license or permit for special events and for street use activities, and street use is governed by Chapters 12.17 and 12.18 BMC. The base fee for a single endorsement is $100.00, and the city manager can waive it for nonprofit activities that provide a significant public or community benefit. A special event license is valid only for the duration of the event (5.10.120). Outdoor musical entertainment expected to draw 250 or more persons where a charge or contribution is required for admission needs written King County health department approval of water, toilet, waste and food facilities and Burien fire marshal approval, and no outdoor musical assembly runs between 12:01 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. (5.10.090).