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

Section 6-23-1005 makes it "unlawful for any person to conduct or operate an outdoor festival within the County without having a license," and section 6-23-1010 defines an outdoor festival as a music, dance, or rock festival held outside a permanent building and attended by more than 500 persons, whether or not admission is charged. Section 6-23-2000 requires the license application to be filed at least 60 days before the event, along with a non-refundable investigation fee under section 6-23-2010. The application must detail security, fire protection, medical and first-aid facilities, water supply, sanitary facilities, solid waste disposal, food supply, parking, traffic control, dust control, lighting, and overnight camping plans, plus decibel readings for all loudspeakers at the property boundary, per section 6-23-2020.

Applicants must also file a scaled site map showing everything within 700 feet of the property, a list of neighboring property owners within that 700-foot radius, proof of property ownership or a signed use contract, a consent letting County officials enter at any time, a cleanup commitment within 72 hours of the event's end, and a damage-reimbursement contract covering adjoining property owners, under sections 6-23-2030 and 6-23-2040. The license collector routes the application to the Resource Management Agency, District Attorney, Fire Chief, Health Officer, Road Commissioner, Risk Manager, and Sheriff for investigation and recommended conditions under section 6-23-2050, and the license collector sets a maximum attendance figure independent of the applicant's own estimate under section 6-23-3010.

Licensees are barred from admitting more people than the licensed maximum, allowing intoxicated or disorderly conduct on the grounds, or admitting patrons without a ticket. This licensing scheme covers only outdoor festivals held in the unincorporated area; an event inside Visalia, Tulare, Porterville, or Dinuba is licensed under that city's own code.