Montgomery County, VA Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)

Outside Blacksburg and Christiansburg, Chapter 5, Article II defines a musical or entertainment festival under Section 5-31 as any gathering publicly advertised by newspaper, radio, television or handbill for entertainment consisting primarily of music, conducted for compensation in open spaces. No one may stage, promote or conduct such a festival without first obtaining a special entertainment permit from the county administrator, acting as the board's designated agent, under Section 5-51. The written application must be filed in duplicate at least thirty days before the festival and at least twenty-one days before a regular board meeting; the administrator can determine an applicant is exempt under Section 5-33, which excuses established churches, chartered civic organizations and established schools from the daily fees and bond, though every other requirement still applies.

A non-exempt applicant must submit, under Section 5-52, copies of tickets, the estimated attendance, names of promoters, backers and performers, the festival location and property owner, and health-officer-approved plans for sanitation, garbage and sewage disposal, food, water and lodging, and medical facilities, plus a sheriff-approved parking, crowd and traffic control plan, a fire protection plan approved by the county's state forestry representative, and a lighting plan that complies with the county building code. Section 5-53 conditions issuance on the applicant granting the board and law enforcement a right of entry to check compliance, and the board may revoke the permit for noncompliance.

A ten-thousand-dollar bond payable to Montgomery County, Virginia, guarantees the site is cleared and restored after the event under Section 5-55. under Section 5-34, sound may not carry unreasonably beyond the property line under Section 5-35, and anyone under sixteen must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to be admitted under Section 5-36.