St. Clair County, IL Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)

St. Clair County Code Article IV of Chapter 8, Business Regulations, requires a permit before any assembly, group activity, musical program or festival takes place anywhere in the unincorporated county (Sec. 8-4-1). The organizer, not just the sponsoring group, must carry the permit while leading the event; the rule exempts student work done under a school's direct supervision and government agencies acting within their own functions.

Sec. 8-4-2 sets the application window: sworn applications go to the County Board Chairman between 30 and 100 days before the event date, and must list the organizer's name and address, the responsible chairman of the activity, who the permit should be issued to, the date, the park or county area requested, the anticipated attendance, and the start and end hours.

Before deciding, the Chairman may ask the Highway Superintendent and the Sheriff for reports on the road and cost impact, request additional reports from other agencies, and hold a public hearing (Sec. 8-4-3). Under Sec. 8-4-4, a permit can only be issued if the event will not unreasonably crowd out other park users, endanger public health or safety, conflict with an existing reservation, disrupt traffic, strain countywide police staffing, risk violence or injury, or exist solely to advertise a product or turn a private profit. The Chairman must act on a complete application within 30 days of filing.

Sec. 8-4-5 lets the Sheriff revoke a permit immediately if the holder misrepresented facts on the application or if the event endangers county residents' health, welfare or safety.