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

18 governs special outdoor events in nonresidential zones, the category that covers street fairs, carnivals, pageants and large community gatherings. Any activity staged on property owned or leased by the City, or on a public road right-of-way such as a street closed for a fair, must first obtain an encroachment permit issued by the City Engineer. Events cannot run more than 10 consecutive days and cannot occur more than four times in a calendar year at the same location. A Special Event Permit is mandatory once attendance reaches 150 people or more, counting both spectators and participants; City Planner approval is required before the event starts regardless of size.

The City Planner routes applications to affected departments and outside agencies to resolve security, food and water supply, tents and canopies, sanitation, medical services, noise, signage, fire protection and traffic control. Organizers may be required to obtain separate building, electrical, health and tent permits from other agencies, and securing those permits is the applicant's sole responsibility. The City can require a cash bond or other guarantee to ensure the site is cleaned up and restored within seven days after the event ends, and organizers must carry liability insurance in an amount set by the City Attorney before approval issues. The City Planner can also require organizers to notify neighboring property owners and businesses of the event.