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

Sec. 031, adopted by Ordinance No. 2664 (NCS) in 2023, defines a special event to include farmers markets, concerts, parades, fairs, festivals, ticketed events, block parties, running events and community celebrations on public property or rights-of-way, and bars conducting or managing one without a permit unless it's a governmental activity, pure expressive activity, or a private event closed to the public. An applicant, including anyone running a street fair or festival, must apply to the city manager or designee at least 45 business days ahead with a description of the event, dates and hours including setup/teardown, the specific property to be used, a site plan showing storm drain and trash-management locations, and a nonrefundable application fee set by council resolution, waived for 501(c)(3) nonprofits.

Fees for the event itself are based on the city's actual costs, covering public safety, traffic control, stormwater protection, street closures and staff overtime. The city manager must approve, conditionally approve or deny within 10 business days and may impose conditions covering assembly areas, sanitary facilities, waste management, catch-basin protection, sound amplification limits and alcohol service. Every permittee must sign a hold-harmless agreement and carry insurance the city attorney deems adequate, except that insurance isn't required for events that are purely expressive activity. Denials can be appealed in writing to the city manager within five business days, decided within 10 business days.