Ontario, CA Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)

Ontario Municipal Code Chapter 16 governs large public events the City defines as a 'festival,' meaning any music, dance, rock, or similar musical activity likely to attract 5,000 or more people in a 24-hour period, held anywhere in the City and open to the public for a charge or free of cost (Sec. 01(a)); religious, government, and purely charitable activities are excluded. Sec. 02 makes it unlawful to operate, maintain, conduct, advertise, or sell tickets for such an event without first obtaining a City license.

Applicants file with the City Clerk at least 60 days before the event with a nonrefundable $100 application fee (Sec. 03), and the Council holds a public hearing 15 to 45 days after a complete application, per Sec. 05. Sec. 50 per person for any attendance that exceeds the estimate; the license is nontransferable and cannot be relocated. Vendor and concession rules sit in the licensing conditions at Sec. ' Food concession operators must also provide at least one flush-type water closet and lavatory per sex for employees, located no more than 50 feet from the concession, per the same subsection.