Omaha, NE Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)

Under City Code § 5-121, conducting a street exhibition, display, festival, or show on Omaha streets or sidewalks without a permit is unlawful. Organizers apply to the public works director listing participants, dates, the specific streets or sidewalks used, the event's purpose, and available sanitation facilities (§ 5-122). The chief of police, planning director, and public works director must jointly approve the permit, checking that the event won't disrupt traffic, overtax police resources, or create a safety risk (§ 5-126). Applicants must also post a $25,000–$100,000 bond or $1,000,000–$5,000,000 in public liability insurance (§ 5-124) and pay a $50 application fee (reduced to $25 if filed 60+ days out) plus a $10-per-block, per-hour street-use fee (§ 5-125). Permits run up to seven consecutive days and can be extended in further seven-day increments (§§ 5-128, 5-129).