Greensboro, NC Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)

Section 26-247 defines a "festival" as a thematic, organized, site-specific celebration, performance, exhibition or competition, during which commerce occurs, advertised and promoted outside the City of Greensboro, that will affect city resources because of anticipated crowds. A festival organizer must obtain a special event permit under § 26-248(a) and must list, in the application itself, the location, number and names of vendors and the types of goods or services they intend to market within the event boundaries (§ 26-256(18)). Once permitted, § 26-270(b) requires every vendor selling goods, food or beverages inside the special event venue to display their authorization, and only vendors displaying that authorization may sell there.

Existing peddler and itinerant merchant business permits issued under § 13-204 are explicitly not transferable for use at a fair or festival (§ 26-270(d)): a separate authorization tied to that specific event is required. Section 26-273 further bars reselling admission tickets except from an established ticket office or booth with the coordinator's express authorization, and § 26-274 requires any signage or banners inside the venue to be pre-approved, with none allowed within 10 feet of the venue's property boundary.