Santa Clara County, CA Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Special Event Permits, B3-145 et seq.
- Vendor condition
- Public Health Dept. food/beverage permit
- Imposed by
- Director of Roads & Airports
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county street fairs only
Summary
Street fairs on unincorporated Santa Clara County roads run under the county's special event permit process, and the Director can require food and beverage vendors to hold Public Health Department permits.
The Director may condition the issuance of a special event permit by imposing reasonable requirements concerning the time, place, or manner of holding such event... Such conditions may include...(p) Requirements to obtain any necessary permits issued by the Santa Clara County Public Health Department for the sale and/or distribution of food and/or beverages at the event.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 65).
Full Breakdown
Sec. B3-145 lists street fairs among the events governed by the county's special event permit chapter, and Sec. B3-153(p) lets the Director of Roads and Airports condition a street fair's permit on vendors obtaining any Santa Clara County Public Health Department permit needed to sell or distribute food and beverages. The organizer still files the underlying special event application under Sec. B3-149, and individual food vendors separately need health permits before serving the public. This applies only to street fairs on unincorporated county roads.
Violations & Fines
Selling food or beverages at a permitted street fair without the required Public Health Department permit violates the special event permit conditions and Sec. B3-158, risking an administrative fine or permit revocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do individual food vendors need their own permit?
Is this different from San Jose's street fair rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Clara County
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Clara County to another location·View the California special events & permits overview
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