Thurston County, WA Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- License fee
- $25 per operating day
- Cleanup deposit
- $100 cash or certified check
- Issued by
- Thurston County auditor
- Deposit lost if
- cleanup not done in 5 days
Summary
Unincorporated Thurston County requires a county auditor license before anyone runs a circus, carnival, or public exposition for profit, charging $25 per operating day plus a $100 refundable cleanup deposit.
It is unlawful for any person or group or combination of persons to operate any circus, carnival or public exposition for profit without first having obtained a license therefor from the county auditor as provided hereinafter.
All applications for such licenses shall be made to the county auditor. Upon application and payment of the license fee, the auditor shall issue a license setting forth the period of time for which such license shall be valid.
It shall be the duty of such licensee to place and maintain such license on the premises in such a position as to be clearly and readily observed by anyone entering the circus, carnival or public exposition.
The license fee shall be twenty-five dollars for each day such circus, carnival, or exposition is to be operated in Thurston County, provided, that the fee for the full number of days shall be paid at the time of original application.
(Ord. 1691 § 1, 1949)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 77).
Full Breakdown
Thurston County Code Chapter 6.04 makes it unlawful to operate any circus, carnival, or public exposition for profit anywhere in the county without first getting a license from the county auditor. The license must be posted where anyone entering the event can see it. Fees run $25 for each day of operation, paid in full when the application is filed. Operators also post a $100 cash or certified-check deposit with the auditor; it's held until the county health officer inspects the grounds afterward and certifies the waste and rubbish have been cleared. If the health officer orders more cleanup and it isn't done within five days, the full deposit goes to the county's general fund instead of back to the operator.
Violations & Fines
Operating a circus, carnival, or public exposition for profit without the county auditor's license is unlawful under Chapter 6.04; failing ordered cleanup within five days forfeits the full $100 deposit to the county general fund.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Thurston County require a permit for a carnival or street fair?
Do organizers get the cleanup deposit back?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Thurston County
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