Lynnwood, WA Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing definition
- LMC 5.30.020(L)
- Vendor license requirement
- LMC 5.30.030(F)
- Max event duration
- 14 days excluding setup
- Max days per site per year
- 60, plus 5 nonprofit days
- Spacing between commercial events
- 5 days minimum
- Temporary electrical service fee
- $87 base plus $22/concession
Summary
Lynnwood, Washington regulates fairs and festivals as "special events" under LMC 5.30.020(L), requiring a city permit before one can operate, and LMC 5.30.030(F) requires every business or vendor at the event to hold a Lynnwood business license and to record, report and remit any taxes owed.
L. "Special event" means an activity or occurrence of limited duration such as a fair, show, festival, party, parade, carnival, circus, rodeo, promotion, entertainment, fireworks display, market, or tent sale that: (1) has the potential to impact public streets, sidewalks, utilities, or public services; or (2) disrupts or precludes the normal or intended use of property and results in considerable impact upon nearby properties. ... F. Business Licenses and Taxes. As required by applicable law, special event businesses/vendors shall have Lynnwood business licenses and record, report and remit taxes.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 3512, passed May 26, 2026).
Full Breakdown
020(E), is defined separately as a single or recurring event where multiple vendors co-locate under a central promoter responsible for sanitation, permitting and coordination with property owners and regulators. 030(F) requires special event businesses and vendors to hold Lynnwood business licenses and to record, report and remit any taxes as required by applicable law, on top of the event's own special event permit fee. 030(E) requires garbage and recycling receptacles that stay closed at the end of each event day, with the site and adjoining properties kept free of litter.
00 per concession. 030(H), which limits portable signs, banners and their display windows before and after the event, and the director may authorize both on-site and off-site temporary signage. 030(I), an outdoor special event is capped at 14 days excluding set-up and take-down, with a limit of 60 days per site per year plus 5 additional days reserved for nonprofit fundraising, and commercial special events on the same site must be spaced at least 5 days apart.
Violations & Fines
Operating a fair or festival, or a vendor booth within one, without the required special event permit and Lynnwood business license is unlawful under LMC 5.30.030(A) and (F). Failing to keep the event site free of litter or to close solid waste receptacles at the end of each day violates LMC 5.30.030(E), and the director may suspend or revoke the special event permit for noncompliance with the chapter or the permit's conditions under LMC 5.30.040(H).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do individual vendors at a Lynnwood street fair need their own business license?
How many days can a street fair run in Lynnwood?
Do fair vendors need a separate permit for their tents?
Is there an extra fee for running electricity to festival booths in Lynnwood?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lynnwood
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Street Fair Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Snohomish County handle street fair rules.