Macon-Bibb County, GA Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)

Article IV of Chapter 12 defines "carnival" broadly to include "a carnival, circus, side show, medicine show, carousel, tent show, menagerie, wild west show, street party, fair, arts and crafts festival, food festival, food cook-off event," or similar entertainment outside a regular theater or athletic field (Sec. 12-71), so street fairs and festivals fall squarely under this permit scheme. Section 12-72 requires anyone who wants to "locate, establish, set up or operate" one of these events to hold "an unrevoked and unexpired permit from the health department," applied for in writing at least 30 days before the event.

The written application must cover the proposed site, the estimated area to be occupied, how many people are traveling with or employed by the event, how many animals will be on site, how many days the site will be occupied, how many itinerant restaurants and food-handling employees will be present, the general layout of food vendors, and the location of water and sewer utilities, plus anything else the health department asks for. Once operating, organizers must use only safe water from an approved public or private supply (Sec.

12-73), provide toilet facilities meeting the health department's minimum published requirements and remove any portable toilets before leaving the site (Sec. 12-74), and store garbage, waste grease or oil, and other refuse in watertight, tight-fitting containers, leaving the site neat and clean when the event ends (Sec. 12-76). The health department can temporarily suspend the permit for any violation of the article's terms, and can revoke it after a hearing before the board or its appropriate committee for serious or repeated violations (Sec. 12-72(b)).