James City County, VA Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Threshold for coverage
- 200+ expected attendees
- Application deadline
- 90 days before the event
- Permit fee
- $50.00
- Security bond
- $5,000 over 1,000 attendees, +$500 per 500 more
- Liability insurance
- $1 million minimum
- Amplified sound curfew
- barred 11:00 p.m.-9:00 a.m.
Summary
A street fair, festival or other outdoor gathering with 200 or more expected attendees needs a special event permit from the county administrator before anyone stages, promotes or advertises it. Sec. 14-3 through Sec. 14-6 set the $50 fee, a 90-day advance filing window, and detailed vendor, security and cleanup conditions.
No person shall stage, promote, advertise or hold any special event as defined in this chapter unless a special event permit has first been obtained from the county administrator or his designee. ... The fee for each special event permit shall be $50.00. ... The applicant shall provide a description of the special event and the type and nature of any performances, entertainment, floor shows, or vendors, together with the names of the expected performers or vendors.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 14 governs outdoor gatherings, musical or entertainment festivals, parades and road races, defining a covered gathering as a public event drawing 200 or more persons. Sec. 14-3 bars staging, promoting, advertising or holding such an event without a special event permit from the county administrator, and makes the applicant responsible for any separate VDOT land use permit, ABC license or health department permits the event also needs. Sec. 00 permit fee, and the administrator must approve, conditionally approve or deny it within 15 calendar days.
Sec. 00 for each additional 500; at least one off-duty deputy or officer per 500 attendees; $1 million in liability insurance naming the county as certificate holder; and a description of the event's type, including the names of expected vendors and performers. Sec. 14-8 separately bars event signage in the VDOT right-of-way except required notification boards.
Violations & Fines
Holding a street fair, festival, parade or road race without the required special event permit violates Sec. 14-3. The county administrator can deny or revoke approval for failing to meet the Sec. 14-6 conditions, and the applicant bears all costs of unmet health, fire, traffic, security or cleanup requirements; event signage placed in the VDOT right-of-way is removed at the responsible party's expense under Sec. 14-8.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a street fair in James City County need a county permit?
What must the application say about vendors?
Is there a deposit required for a large festival?
Can music run all night at a permitted festival?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in James City County
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