Raleigh, NC Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)

City Code Sec. 9-7004, Special Events at Malls, requires any person or group presenting a concert, performance, exhibition, ceremony or other activity tending to create a public congregation on one of the City's designated Pedestrian Malls to obtain a special event permit, unless they already hold a valid City picketing permit under Sec. 12-1056 or an outdoor restaurant dining permit under former Sec. 9-7007. Sec. 9-7002 defines the four Pedestrian Malls covered: City Plaza, Exchange Plaza, Market Plaza and Martin Street Plaza, described by recorded plat and tax-map boundaries in downtown Raleigh.

An application must be submitted in writing at least 48 hours before the event and must state the sponsoring organization's name, the area of the mall to be used, the date and hour requested, the person in charge who will carry the permit, a detailed description of the planned activities, and the expected number of participants. The City Manager or a designee issues the permit only if satisfied the event's nature, scope and size will not hinder the mall's regularly established use or harm its care, protection and maintenance, and may limit the number of concurrent permits or event size for the same reason; applications are processed in the order received.

Every application must be accompanied by a filing fee set on the City of Raleigh Fee Schedule. Sec. 1 requires the sponsor's name to be displayed prominently and continuously at the event, Sec. 9-7005 allows revocation for falsifying a permit, and Sec. 9-7006 makes the permit holder responsible for injuries, surface or fixture damage, and trash removal, potentially requiring a bond or liability insurance. This chapter governs only the four pedestrian malls, not city streets generally; peddling or pushcart vending at any such event is separately regulated under Sec. 12-1024.