Los Angeles County, CA Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- County Code Chapter 22.188
- Short-term duration cap
- 6 weekends or 7 consecutive days
- Issuing authority
- Director of Regional Planning
- Setup/breakdown curfew
- No work 10 p.m.–7 a.m.
- Jurisdiction
- Unincorporated LA County only
Summary
Unincorporated LA County requires a Special Events Permit for street fairs, carnivals, and festivals; a Short-Term Special Events Permit caps sponsor-run fairs at six weekends or seven consecutive days per year.
A Short-Term Special Events Permit may approve short-term events sponsored by a public agency or a religious, fraternal, educational, or service organization directly engaged in civic, charitable, or public service endeavors, conducted for no more than six weekends or seven consecutive days during any 12-month period and limited to: a. Carnivals. b. Exhibitions. c. Fairs...e. Festivals, excluding outdoor festivals.
Full Breakdown
The County's Special Events Permit (LA County Code Ch. 22.188) governs street fairs, carnivals, exhibitions, and festivals in the unincorporated area. A public agency or a religious, fraternal, educational, or service organization can run a Short-Term Special Events Permit event for up to six weekends or seven consecutive days in any 12-month period; outdoor festivals are excluded and need an Extended-Term permit instead. The Director of Regional Planning can condition approval on adequate on-site parking, trash containers, a 40-square-foot banner cap, no setup or breakdown between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., and site restoration within 24 hours after the event ends.
Violations & Fines
Outdoor display or sales without a Special Events Permit is an infraction under LACC § 22.242.050, $100 first offense, $200 second, $500 third within 12 months, then a misdemeanor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this permit cover street fairs inside the City of Los Angeles?
How long can a sponsor-run street fair operate without extended review?
What happens if a vendor sets up outdoor sales without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Los Angeles County
California rules heatmap·Compare Los Angeles County to another location·View the California special events & permits overview
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