Howard County, MD Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- County Code § 17.900(l), § 17.901
- Permit trigger
- Street closure or rerouted traffic
- Fee exemption
- None (unlike parades, block parties)
- Application deadline
- 60 days before, up to 1 year
- Decision deadline
- At least 14 days before event
- Max criminal fine
- $1,000.00
Summary
A street festival counts as a 'public assembly' special event under County Code § 17.900(l), and organizers must get a Department of Police permit under § 17.901(a) whenever the fair closes a street or requires rerouted traffic. Unlike parades and block parties, street fairs are not fee-exempt: the County can charge both an application fee and a permit fee.
(l)Public assembly means a group of persons collected together in one place for the same purpose including, without limitation a street festival or similar activity or expressive activity. ... (a)Special Events. A person shall obtain a permit under this subtitle for a special event if the special event:(1)Requires the closure of a street, highway, or road; or(2)Requires authorized County employees to stop or reroute vehicular or pedestrian traffic because the special event will not or cannot comply with normal and usual traffic regulations or controls. ... (c)Fee Exemptions. The County:(1)Shall exempt an applicant for a parade or block party from paying a permit fee;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 91 | Zoning: Supplement 25).
Full Breakdown
901(a) whenever it requires closing a public street, highway, or road, or requires authorized County employees to stop or reroute vehicular or pedestrian traffic. 902(b), supplying contact information, the number of security personnel to be supplied, and an electronically signed application; a separate application is required for each day of a multi-day fair. 905(c)(4) bars the County from charging itself for County-sponsored events. 904(a), weighing factors including adequate security, sufficient toilet facilities under the Plumbing Code, litter-control plans, and the availability of County traffic and public-safety resources on that date.
A granted permit obligates the organizer to keep the site free of debris, maintain a ten-foot emergency-vehicle lane where a street is closed, and reimburse the County for any damage to public property.
Violations & Fines
Holding a street fair that closes a public street without the required permit, or violating permit conditions, is enforceable under § 17.908 as a Class C civil offense under Title 24, with each day a separate violation, or as a criminal misdemeanor with a fine up to $1,000.00. The County may inspect the event and issue citations for violations of the permit or Code under § 17.907.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a street festival treated the same as a parade under County law?
Do vendors at a street fair need separate County approval?
How much does a street fair permit cost?
What can get a street fair permit denied?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Howard County
Compare Howard County to another location·View the Maryland special events & permits overview
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