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Stafford County, VA Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Permit required
Any festival over 100 people, Sec. 4-36
Application deadline
60 days before the event, Sec. 4-37
Performance limit
8 hours per 24-hour period, Sec. 4-25
Minors
Under 18 need a parent/guardian present
Appeal window
30 days to Board of Supervisors, Sec. 4-27
Penalty
Class 1 misdemeanor, up to $2,500 fine

Summary

Stafford County requires a permit before anyone stages an outdoor musical or entertainment festival, defined as a gathering of more than 100 people for music-centered entertainment on open private property. The Department of Planning and Zoning administers permits, applications are due 60 days before the event, and violators face a Class 1 misdemeanor under County Code Chapter 4.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Stafford County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

the term "musical or entertainment festival" or "festival" shall mean any gathering of groups or individuals in excess of 100 persons for the purpose of listening to or participating in entertainment which consists primarily of musical renditions conducted in open spaces on private property and not within an enclosed structure or other structure designed to accommodate groups of persons. ... Music shall not be rendered nor entertainment provided at a festival for more than eight (8) hours in any twenty-four (24) hour period ... No person shall stage, promote or conduct any outdoor musical or entertainment festival in the unincorporated areas of the county, without first obtaining a permit to do so issued pursuant to this division. ... An application for a permit required by this division shall be in writing on forms provided for that purpose and filed with the department of planning and zoning at least 60 days before the date of the proposed festival.

Full Breakdown

2-1200 to regulate outdoor musical or entertainment festivals. Sec. 4-24 defines a "festival" as any gathering of more than 100 people for entertainment primarily consisting of musical renditions in open spaces on private property, not inside an enclosed structure. Sec. 4-36 makes it unlawful to stage, promote or conduct such a festival in the unincorporated county without a permit, and Sec. 4-37 requires the written application to be filed with the Department of Planning and Zoning at least 60 days before the festival date. Sec.

4-38 lists what the application must include: admission ticket details, promoter and financing information, a site layout plan showing parking, entertainment and sanitation areas, a sanitation and waste-disposal plan approved by the health department, a food, water and lodging plan approved by the health department, a medical-facilities plan approved by the fire chief, a parking and traffic-control plan approved by the sheriff's office, a fire-protection plan approved by the fire marshal, and disclosure of any outdoor lighting. Sec. 4-25 caps performances at eight hours in any 24-hour period, and Sec.

4-26 bars anyone under 18 from attending unless accompanied by a parent or guardian who stays for the duration. The county administrator administers the article, and Sec. 4-27 lets a denied applicant appeal in writing to the board of supervisors within 30 days through the planning and zoning department.

Violations & Fines

Any violation of Article II is a Class 1 misdemeanor under Sec. 4-23, punishable under Sec. 1-11 by a fine of up to $2,500, up to 12 months in jail, or both, with each day a separate offense. The board of supervisors may also sue in Stafford County Circuit Court to restrain or enjoin an unpermitted festival, and failing to comply with the sanitation, medical, parking or fire plans submitted with the application is separately unlawful under Sec. 4-38(b).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to hold a street festival in Stafford County?
Yes. Sec. 4-36 makes it unlawful to stage, promote or conduct any outdoor musical or entertainment festival, defined by Sec. 4-24 as a gathering of more than 100 people for music-centered entertainment on open private property, without first getting a permit from the Department of Planning and Zoning under Article II of Chapter 4.
How far in advance must I apply?
Sec. 4-37 requires the written application to be filed with the Department of Planning and Zoning at least 60 days before the proposed festival date, along with the plans, statements and approvals listed in Sec. 4-38, including sanitation, medical, fire and traffic-control plans.
What happens if I run the festival without a permit?
Sec. 4-23 makes any violation of Article II a Class 1 misdemeanor, and Sec. 1-11 sets the penalty at up to a $2,500 fine, up to 12 months in jail, or both, with the board of supervisors also able to seek a court injunction to stop the event.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Stafford County

All Stafford County rules

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