Pico Rivera, CA Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit type
- Temporary Use Permit (TUP)
- Review authority
- Zoning Administrator
- Appeal window
- 3 days after decision
- Effective date condition
- Business license required first
- Security required
- Cash bond set by council resolution
- Covered events
- Fairs, festivals, concerts outside enclosed venues
Summary
In the City of Pico Rivera, a street fair, festival, or outdoor concert not held inside a building designed for public assembly needs a Temporary Use Permit from the Zoning Administrator under Municipal Code Section 18.05.040 before any other city permit or license issues, plus a cash bond to guarantee cleanup.
A Temporary Use Permit (TUP) shall be required for the following uses subject to the provisions of this Section prior to the issuance of any permit or approval, and other applicable approvals and licenses and inspections as required by State law. In addition to the required fee for a TUP, a cash bond in an amount established by a resolution of the City Council shall be posted with the City to guarantee the removal of all merchandise. ... Fairs, Festivals, and Concerts. When not held within premises designed to accommodate such events, such as auditoriums, stadiums, or other public assembly facilities. ... the appeal may be filed no more than three days after the decision of the Zoning Administrator.
Full Breakdown
Section 18.05.040(B)(3) lists 'Fairs, Festivals, and Concerts' among the uses requiring a Temporary Use Permit (TUP) whenever the event is not held inside an auditorium, stadium, or other facility built for public assembly, alongside circuses, carnivals, and fundraising events run by a nonprofit. The Zoning Administrator acts as review authority and must find, before approval, that the event will not harm public health, safety, or welfare, that the site is large enough, that surrounding streets can carry the expected traffic, that adequate temporary parking exists on site or nearby, and that the use will not endanger neighboring properties.
The Administrator can attach conditions covering temporary parking, noise, glare, dust and odor control, the placement and size of temporary structures, sanitation and medical facilities, signage, and hours and days of operation, and can require a performance bond to guarantee removal of equipment and full site restoration after the event. Applicants file with the Planning Division under Section 18.04.020 and pay the TUP fee plus the cash bond required by council resolution to guarantee removal of all merchandise. A TUP does not take effect until the organizer also obtains a city business license.
Decisions can be appealed under Section 18.04.100, but only within three days of the Zoning Administrator's decision, a much shorter window than the standard appeal period for other zoning approvals, and a TUP can be revoked under Section 18.04.090 for noncompliance.
Violations & Fines
Running a fair, festival, or concert without the required Section 18.05.040 Temporary Use Permit is enforced as a general code violation under Chapter 1.20: a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail, or both, though the city may reduce the charge to an infraction with tiered fines of $100, $200, and $500 for repeat violations within a year. Each day the unpermitted event continues counts as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an indoor concert at the Sports Arena need a Temporary Use Permit?
How long do I have to appeal a denied street fair permit?
What happens if I hold the festival before getting a business license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pico Rivera
California rules heatmap·Compare Pico Rivera to another location·View the California special events & permits overview
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