Kane County, IL Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit type
- Special Event Entertainment Permit
- Threshold
- 250 or more people
- Fee, 250-1,000
- $250
- Fee, 1,001-5,000
- $1,000
- Fee, over 5,000
- $2,000
- Ride paperwork required
- State ride + operator permit copies
Summary
A street fair, festival, or carnival of 250 or more people in unincorporated Kane County needs a Special Event Entertainment Permit. Sec. 14-3-2(A)(3) names fairs, carnivals, concerts, and markets specifically, and charges a fee that climbs with attendance, from $250 up to $2,000 for events over 5,000 people.
Special Event Entertainment Permit: Special entertainment events that may or may not be advertised and open to the public and include, but are not limited to, fairs, festivals, celebrations, circuses, carnivals, concerts, shows, markets or private group events for two hundred fifty (250) or more persons that do not include sporting events. Amplified music and temporary structures shall be permitted and must meet the requirements noted in this section 14-3. All rules pertaining to the service and sale of alcohol under this code shall be applicable. A nonrefundable fee based on attendance shall accompany each application and is not a guarantee that said application will be approved and a permit issued as follows: 250 - 1,000 people $250.00; 1,001 - 5,000 people $1,000.00; Over 5,000 people $2,000.00.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-17: Code current through: Ord. 26-183, passed 4-14-2026).
Full Breakdown
Kane County's Chapter 14-3 special event ordinance carves out a distinct Special Event Entertainment Permit for public entertainment gatherings of 250 people or more. Sec. 14-3-2(A)(3) names fairs, festivals, celebrations, circuses, carnivals, concerts, shows, and markets as covered activities, whether or not the event is advertised to the public, so a county fairground carnival and a ticketed concert fall under the same category. The application fee scales with expected crowd size: $250 for 250 to 1,000 people, $1,000 for 1,001 to 5,000, and $2,000 for anything larger, none of it refundable and none of it a guarantee of approval.
Because fairs and carnivals commonly involve amusement rides, Sec. 14-3-3(E) separately requires organizers to submit a copy of the State of Illinois inspection report for each ride and the carnival operator's amusement ride permit from the Illinois Department of Labor, along with names and birthdates of every ride employee or volunteer so the sheriff can run background checks. Sec. 14-3-3(H) bars horse poling or tripping at any rodeo-style attraction and requires compliance with Illinois law for rodeos and charreadas. 5, submitted to the county along with liquor licenses, building permits, and any fireworks permits as part of the site plan approval under Sec. 14-3-3(C).
Violations & Fines
A fair or carnival that draws 250 or more people without an entertainment permit exposes the organizer, sponsor, and property owner to a fine of up to $1,000 per day under Sec. 14-3-6, imposed by the county board chairman after notice and a hearing. The county can also revoke a permit already issued, and suspend the event outright, if it later finds false or misleading information in the application under Sec. 14-3-6(B).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Kane County street fair permit cost?
Do carnival rides need separate inspection paperwork?
Can I sell food at a Kane County street fair without a food permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kane County
Compare Kane County to another location·View the Illinois special events & permits overview
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