Long Beach, CA Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Street fairs classified as
- Special Events under § 5.60.010(H)(3)
- Vendor requirement
- Business license/permit for goods sold, § 5.60.020(D)(14)
- Cleaning deposit
- Required for food/beverage/goods sales, D.6
- Filing deadline
- 60 calendar days before the event
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor for intentional violation, § 5.60.110
Summary
Street fairs and festivals are expressly listed as "Special Events" under Long Beach Municipal Code § 5.60.010(H)(3), so organizers need a City Manager permit under Chapter 5.60, and any vendor selling food, beverages, or goods at the fair must hold the business licenses or permits required elsewhere in the Code under § 5.60.020(D)(14).
3.Examples of special events include, but are not limited to, concerts, parades, circuses, fairs, festivals, block parties, street fairs, community events, on the water activities (such as boat races), mass participation sports (such as marathons and other running events), athletic or sporting events, and community celebrations and observances conducted on public property or public rights of way. ... 14.The obtaining of any and all business licenses or other necessary permits required by this Code for the sale of food, beverage or other goods or services at the event;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 52 Update 1 | City Charter: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
60's permit scheme rather than a separate vendor ordinance. 020(D)(14)). 8). 070 before the permit takes effect. 060(A), including that a vendor "has not complied or cannot comply with applicable licensure requirements" for selling goods.
Violations & Fines
Running a street fair or festival, or vending at one, without the required Chapter 5.60 special event permit and the business licenses conditioned on it, is a misdemeanor for intentional violations under § 5.60.110. The City Manager can also revoke an already-issued permit under § 5.60.060(A)(15) if a vendor cannot meet applicable licensure requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are street fairs treated differently from other special events in Long Beach?
Do food and merchandise vendors at a Long Beach street fair need their own permits?
Is a cleaning deposit required for a Long Beach street fair with food vendors?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Long Beach
California rules heatmap·Compare Long Beach to another location·View the California special events & permits overview
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Street Fair Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle street fair rules.