Peoria, AZ Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Peoria City Code § 21-160
- Application deadline
- 30 days before the event
- Max event length
- 30 consecutive days
- Annual cap
- 90 days and 12 permits per lot
- Exempt event size
- 4,000 to 10,000 sq ft
- Cleanup deadline
- 72 hours after the event
- Appeal body
- Board of Adjustment, § 21-163
Summary
Peoria requires a Temporary Use Permit before anyone runs a carnival, craft show, exhibition, fair, festival or similar special event under City Code Section 21-160. Applications go to the Community Development Department at least 30 days before the event, and approved events are capped at 30 consecutive days, 90 days per calendar year, and 12 permits per lot annually.
1. Temporary Uses Allowed, Permit Required. The Temporary Uses identified below shall obtain a Temporary Use Permit pursuant to the procedures set forth in this Section. Temporary Uses shall mean events such as, but not limited to: a. Carnivals, circuses, craft shows, exhibitions, fairs, festivals, home and garden shows, temporary outdoor sales events, or similar special events not otherwise excluded within this Section. ... 3. All other Temporary Use Permits shall be limited to a maximum of thirty (30) consecutive days per event, and the cumulative total of all Temporary Uses shall not exceed ninety (90) days per calendar year per lot. Not more than twelve (12) Temporary Use Permits shall be granted per lot or complex per calendar year.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-9: Supplement contains: LLocal legislation current through Ord. 2026-15, passed 6-16-26).
Full Breakdown
1 lists carnivals, circuses, craft shows, exhibitions, fairs, festivals, home and garden shows and temporary outdoor sales events as Temporary Uses that must obtain a Temporary Use Permit before they happen. , it lasts no more than two days in a 30-day period, and it sits at least 200 feet from a residential structure; events inside a City Council-designated Entertainment District skip the size cap entirely but must still stay 200 feet from the Grand Avenue right-of-way. 1, and each occurrence needs its own separate permit application.
Every temporary use, exempt or not, must comply with the City's noise ordinance, keep temporary signage compliant with Section 21-710, secure separate tent and generator permits from the Fire or Building code, and avoid permanent site alterations. H to clear all debris and litter and restore the site. I at 30 consecutive days per event, 90 cumulative days per lot per calendar year, and no more than 12 Temporary Use Permits per lot or complex in a year. A denial or an approval condition can be appealed to the Board of Adjustment under Section 21-163.
Violations & Fines
Running a fair, carnival or festival without the required Temporary Use Permit, or violating its conditions, is a violation of the City Code enforceable under Section 1-5 as a Class One misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $2,500, up to six months of incarceration, and up to three years of probation; a continuing violation counts as a separate offense for each day it lasts. Under Section 21-160.I.4, the Community Development Department can also revoke the permit outright if the event stops meeting its approved criteria or threatens public health, safety or welfare.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a street fair in Peoria need a city permit?
Can a small festival skip the permit requirement?
How long can a permitted event run in Peoria?
What happens if an organizer skips the permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Peoria
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