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

Significant Restrictions

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

Key Facts

Threshold: 2,000+ person outdoor gatherings
Application fee: $100 nonrefundable
Filing deadline: 60 days before the event
License fee: $150 per day of event
Public hearing: Set 15-30 days after filing
Nonprofit exemption: Charitable, religious, fraternal groups
Enforcement: Board of Supervisors and county sheriff

Summary

Any festival, exhibit, dance, concert, or similar outdoor event drawing 2,000 or more people in unincorporated Glenn County, California, needs an Outdoor Assembly license from the Board of Supervisors under Chapter 6.16. Organizers file a written application at least 60 days ahead with a $100 nonrefundable fee, and the board can impose security, insurance, and cleanup-bond conditions after a public hearing.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Glenn County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

"outdoor assembly" means and includes any outdoor gathering of two thousand or more individuals in a single place or locale for the purpose of attending or participating in dances, chorales, musical recitals, lectures, speeches, orations, plays, shows, circuses, motion picture shows, picture projection shows, festivals, exhibits, and similar musical and/or theatrical type performances to which the public is admitted with or without the payment of admission charges. ... It is unlawful for any individual, partnership or corporation to operate, maintain, conduct, advertise, sell or furnish tickets or other types of written authority for admission to an outdoor assembly in the unincorporated area of the county, unless he, they, or it, first obtains a license from the county to operate or conduct such assembly.

View official code

Full Breakdown

020 defines an "outdoor assembly" as any outdoor gathering of 2,000 or more people for dances, concerts, plays, circuses, festivals, exhibits, or similar performances open to the public. 030 makes it unlawful to operate, advertise, or sell tickets to such an event in the unincorporated area without a county license. 050). 060). 100). 150). 120).

Violations & Fines

Operating an outdoor assembly without a license is unlawful under Section 6.16.030, punishable as an infraction that becomes a misdemeanor on a third offense within 12 months, with each day a separate offense (Section 1.12.010). The board can revoke a license after a hearing if the licensee violates any condition or ordinance, or made false statements in the application (Section 6.16.130), and the sheriff may shut the assembly down immediately for a riot or serious breach of the peace (Section 6.16.140).

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of street fair or festival triggers this permit?

Any outdoor festival, exhibit, dance, concert, circus, or similar performance expected to draw 2,000 or more attendees in the unincorporated area, as defined in Section 6.16.020. Smaller neighborhood events under that headcount fall outside the chapter, and the annual Glenn County Fair at Orland and school athletic contests are specifically exempted by Section 6.16.160.

How and when do organizers apply?

File a written application with the clerk of the Board of Supervisors at least 60 days before the event, along with a nonrefundable $100 application fee, under Sections 6.16.040 and 6.16.050. The application must describe the site, dates, expected attendance, and plans for security, sanitation, medical care, parking, and alcohol and drug control.

Is there a separate license fee besides the application fee?

Yes. Once the Board of Supervisors orders the license issued, Section 6.16.110 requires the clerk to collect a license fee of $150 for each day the assembly runs before handing over the license. Charitable, religious, or fraternal organizations are exempt from both the application and license fees under Section 6.16.120 if proceeds do not benefit a private person or company.

Sources & Official References

[1]Glenn County Code, Chapter 6.16 (Municipal Code Online print edition)

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All Glenn County rules

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