Islip, NY Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- Town Clerk, with Town Board resolution
- Max events per location/year
- 6
- Max permit term
- 10 days
- Application fee
- $500
- Cleanup bond
- $2,000
- Liability insurance minimum
- $1M/person, $2M/accident
- Penalty for no permit
- up to $2,000/day or 15 days
Summary
A "fair" under Town Code § 36-7 covers any public event where goods or food are displayed for sale, including bazaars and street festivals, and § 36-9 bars operating one without a Town Clerk permit backed by a Town Board resolution. No more than six such events are allowed at one location per calendar year.
§ 36-7. Definitions. FAIR — A public event at which goods and/or food are displayed for sale. The word "fair" shall be deemed to include the words "bazaar" and "street festival." ... § 36-9. Permit required; restrictions. A. It shall be unlawful to erect, operate or maintain any amusement ride(s), carnival, circus, fair or amusement event without having secured a permit from the Town Clerk, or to continue to erect, operate or maintain such event after the expiration or revocation of such permit.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4826765; v112 updated 2026-02-24; through 02-24-2026).
Full Breakdown
'" Section 36-9(A) makes it unlawful to "erect, operate or maintain any amusement ride(s), carnival, circus, fair or amusement event" without a Town Clerk permit, and § 36-11 requires the Town Board to first adopt a resolution approving the use before any permit can issue: approval the Board can deny if the event will disturb the peace or jeopardize public health, safety or welfare. No more than six amusement events are allowed at the same location each calendar year under § 36-9(C), and a permit runs no longer than 10 days.
m. m. m. m. Friday-Saturday. Section 36-13 requires the application at least 60 days out (75 for 1,000+ attendees), plus proof of Suffolk County Department of Health Services and NYS Department of Labor approvals, disclosure if attendance may reach 5,000, a notarized property-owner consent letter, and a scaled-to-size site plan. Section 36-14 adds a $2,000 cleanup bond and public liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per person / $2,000,000 per accident, naming the Town as an insured. The application fee is $500 under § 36-15(A).
Violations & Fines
Section 36-21 makes it a violation for anyone to erect, operate or maintain an amusement event without a permit, or to own the land on which one operates unlawfully, punishable by a fine of up to $2,000 for each day the violation continues, up to 15 days' imprisonment, or both. Section 36-18(B) adds a $250 penalty for undisclosed site-plan changes found at inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a street festival in Islip count as a 'fair' under the code?
Do I need Town Board approval to hold a street fair in Islip, or just a Town Clerk permit?
How many carnivals or fairs can be held at one Islip location each year?
What insurance does an Islip fair or carnival vendor need?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Islip
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Street Fair Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Suffolk County handle street fair rules.