Muncie, IN Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)

Muncie City Code § 96.42(A) requires a right-of-way use permit for any activity that temporarily closes traffic or parking lanes or pedestrian ways to share ROW space with the public, naming parades, street fairs, sidewalk fairs and sales, and dumpsters as examples. Section 96.43(A) routes these applications differently than utility work: the city engineer receives the filing but forwards it to the Board of Public Works and Safety, the actual permit-issuing authority for surface-use closures, and the board 'shall exercise its discretion in the issuance or denial of a permit and may impose such reasonable conditions as it sees fit.' An organizer must describe the event location, dates, and traffic-control method, and pay a $20.00 daily permit fee for each day of intended street-fair use under § 96.43(B)(1); unlike most ROW work, a surface-use permit under (A)(3) does not require the $5,000.00 performance bond.

Liability insurance and a signed indemnity agreement protecting the City of Muncie are still required. If the activity runs past its estimated end date, the organizer must buy additional daily permits before continuing. The street superintendent inspects compliance, and the board can deny, suspend or revoke the permit for standards violations under § 96.48(A).