New Orleans, LA Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 110-259, Ch. 110 Peddlers, Solicitors, Vendors
- Entertainment/trade-show vendor fee
- $500.00 per location, per event
- SA&PC parade/event vendor fee
- $25.00 per vendor, per year
- Vending hours
- Closed 7 p.m.-7:30 a.m. (10 p.m. Sat./Dec.)
- Jazz Fest exclusion zone
- Florida Ave./N. Broad/Esplanade/Bayou St. John
- Permit suspension
- Up to 10 days for a violation, § 110-267
Summary
Vendors selling goods at a New Orleans street fair or festival need a Department of Finance permit under Code § 110-259, at $500 per location per event for entertainment-tied merchandise sales, and $25 per vendor per year for parade-permit Social Aid and Pleasure Club vendors; violation forfeits the permit.
Sec. 110-259. - Permits required for various callings or occasions; fees. (b)(2)For any transient vendor, canvasser, solicitor and merchant engaged in the sale of goods, wares and merchandise in conjunction with an entertainment event, athletic or sporting event, where the sale of such merchandise is secondary as accessory to the primary purpose for the lease, use or occupation of a room, building or other structure...this classification shall be designated as class B...Per location, per event: $500.00.(5)For any Social Aid and Pleasure Club Occasional Vendor engaging in the sale of prepared or packaged food, hot or cooked food, food cooked to order, or non-food artifacts at a parade event where said vendor's Social Aid and Pleasure Club has a valid parade permit from the police department or a special event where said vendors' Social Aid and Pleasure Club has obtained a promoter license and mayoralty permit...this classification shall be designated as class E...shall be $25.00 per vendor; per year.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 116 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Section 110-259(a) requires anyone using public streets, sidewalks or public places for these businesses to first obtain a Department of Finance permit stating the occasion and expiration date. 00 rate, which also covers their subcontractors' retail activity. 00 per vendor per year for Social Aid and Pleasure Club occasional vendors selling prepared or packaged food or non-food artifacts at a parade with a valid police-issued parade permit, or at a special event with a promoter license and mayoralty permit. m. 00 enforcement fee for most classes (class E excepted), payable to the Department of Finance.
Under § 110-272, § 110-259 permits are not valid at all within the area bounded by Florida Avenue, North Broad Avenue, Esplanade Avenue and Bayou St. John (excluding the Fair Grounds Racetrack) during the annual Jazz and Heritage Festival season, running from the first day of live music through midnight of the final day.
Violations & Fines
Section 110-267 makes any violation of city, state or federal law, or operating outside the terms of the permit, grounds for forfeiture. The Department of Finance director suspends the permit for up to ten days, grants a hearing on request, and upon finding a violation cancels the permit outright with no refund of taxes or fees paid. Section 110-268 authorizes the director or deputies to inspect the vending location at any reasonable hour to confirm compliance, and § 110-270 makes every permit nontransferable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do vendors at a New Orleans street fair need a city permit?
How much does a street fair vendor permit cost?
Can vendors set up anywhere near the Jazz Fest grounds?
What happens if a vendor violates the permit terms?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Orleans
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