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Lane County, OR Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)

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

Key Facts

Triggers license
1,000-3,000 attendees, 12-120 hours
Filing deadline
60 days before the event
Application fee cap
$750 per assembly
Parking requirement
1 space per 3 attendees
Site frequency limit
one assembly per site per 90 days
Max organizer fine
up to $10,000 per offense
Appeal window
7 days to Hearings Official

Summary

Any gathering of 1,000 to 3,000 people in unincorporated Lane County expected to run more than 12 hours but no more than 120 hours needs an Outdoor Assembly License from the Land Management Division under Lane Code 3.300.015, whether it's a festival, fair, or concert. Organizers must file at least 60 days ahead, pay up to $750, and meet traffic, sanitation, fire and security standards.

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

"Assembly" means an actual or reasonably anticipated gathering of 1,000 to 3,000 persons that continues or can reasonably be expected to continue for more than 12 hours but up to 120 hours. ... An Applicant must pay an assembly application processing fee not to exceed $750.00 per assembly application upon filing the application with the Land Management Division. ... An application must be submitted no less than sixty days prior to the assembly unless a reduced time period is approved by the Director... Only one assembly per assembly site may be held in any 90 day period and no two assemblies may be held closer than 90 days apart.

Full Breakdown

015 applies to any "assembly," defined as a gathering of 1,000 to 3,000 persons lasting more than 12 hours and up to 120 hours, anywhere on private land in unincorporated Lane County regardless of zoning. It exempts events at schools or churches, government emergency responses, gatherings in a park authorized by the park's own regulating authority, and anything already approved through a land-use permit or allowed outright by zoning. An organizer applies to the Land Management Division at least 60 days before the event (the Director can shorten that window for smaller assemblies), paying an application fee capped at $750 plus a refundable deposit covering Sheriff, fire, and health response costs if violations occur.

The application must include a detailed site plan, a traffic management plan providing one parking space per three attendees and access for emergency vehicles, an Oregon Liquor Control Commission statement if alcohol will be served, and a public-health plan meeting minimum toilet, hand-washing and trash-receptacle ratios (10 toilets, 10 trash receptacles and 4 hand-wash stations for the first 1,000 attendees, scaling up per additional 100 attendees). The Land Management Division refers the application to the Sheriff, Public Health, Code Compliance, the State Fire Marshal, the local fire district, Public Works Transportation Planning, the Oregon Department of Forestry and OLCC, each of which has 10 days to comment.

Only one assembly is allowed per site every 90 days, and no permanent structures or off-site parking are permitted. The Director's decision can be appealed to the Hearings Official within 7 days, then to Lane County Circuit Court.

Violations & Fines

An organizer who lets an assembly run out of compliance risks having the Sheriff order the crowd to disperse if there's an immediate threat to public health or safety, and the Board of County Commissioners or the Planning Director can revoke the license outright. The county can sue to enjoin an ongoing violation, and under Lane Manual 5.020(3) can fine each individual organizer up to $10,000 upon sufficient proof of an offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a small local street fair need this license?
Only if it meets the size and duration thresholds: an actual or reasonably anticipated 1,000 to 3,000 attendees for more than 12 hours but not more than 120 hours. A smaller neighborhood fair, or one that fits inside a park under the park's own authorization, falls outside Lane Code 3.300.015 entirely.
What does the $750 fee actually cover?
The $750 is the processing fee cap for reviewing the license application itself, and it doesn't cover everything. The county can also require a separate refundable deposit to pay for Sheriff, fire district, health department and Forestry response if the event runs into trouble; if no violations occur, that deposit comes back.
Can the county shut an event down mid-event?
Yes. If the organizer can't keep order and the Sheriff decides there's an immediate threat to public health or safety, Lane Code 3.300.015O lets the Sheriff order the crowd to disperse and leave the site, and the Board of County Commissioners or Planning Director can revoke the license entirely.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Lane County

All Lane County rules

Compare Lane County to another location·View the Oregon special events & permits overview

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