Perth Amboy, NJ Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)

The Code of the City of Perth Amboy never uses the words street fair. Section 343-1 instead defines public entertainment to include festivals, carnivals, circuses, concerts, exhibitions or shows and any gathering held to sell or exhibit foods, beverages, goods, wares or services, on private or public property, with or without an admission fee. Section 343-2(A) prohibits conducting or allowing public entertainment on any real property, including streets and sidewalks, without a permit. Events sponsored exclusively by the City are exempt, a co-sponsored event needs a permit, and school and religious events on their own property are outside the chapter.

Street locations are limited. Under § 343-5(A), permits for city property cover all other city streets where neither side is zoned residential, Hall Avenue between State Street and the railroad bridge, Smith Street between High Street and the bridge at the railroad station, and the Marina Parking Lot on Front Street, capped at two events per year of six hours each. No vendors are permitted on Sadowski Parkway between Wisteria Street and State Street (§ 343-5(C)). Street events run 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on holidays falling on other days, and 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m. on Sundays (§ 343-6(B)).

The application goes to the City Clerk at least 90 days ahead with a $100 nonrefundable fee and a background check paid by the applicant, and it must describe the number and types of vendors expected (§ 343-3). The Business Administrator's recommendation identifies extra permits such as food vendor permits or electrical permits for generators, and the City Council considers a resolution within 60 days of receiving the application. Security is set by formula in § 343-10(E): one officer for every intersection needing traffic control, plus one officer for every 1,000 persons in attendance in daylight and two after sunset. The special event fee schedule adds a $50 street blocking fee per closure, and closures beyond six hours need City Council approval (§ 343-17(A)(4)).