Union City, CA Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit type
- Administrative Use Permit
- Max event length
- 5 consecutive days
- Cleanup deposit
- $500, due 5 days ahead
- Allowed zones
- Commercial and industrial only
- Excluded
- Nonprofit events, single vendor carts
Summary
Union City requires an administrative use permit for outdoor arts-and-crafts fairs and multiple-vendor events on developed commercial or industrial sites, capping them at five days with a $500 cleanup deposit, per Alameda County, California code.
Also included in this category are multiple vendor events such as arts and crafts fairs, holiday boutiques, and the like, when held on the premises of a developed commercial or industrial site. Such events shall include the display of goods typically sold on the site of the event. This category is not intended to apply to activities conducted by nonprofit or charitable institutions in the City nor is it intended to permit the placement of individual vendor operations such as hot dog carts, produce trucks, and the like. Events included within this category shall comply with the provisions of the administrative use permit procedures and shall comply with the following regulatory conditions and parameters:
1. These events shall be conducted on private property located in commercial or industrial zones with the written approval of the property owner. Verification of the property owner's approval shall be submitted along with the application for administrative use permit.
2. These events shall be conducted on the site of developed commercial or industrial projects and shall not be permitted on vacant parcels.
3. Events permitted within this definition shall have maximum duration of five consecutive days.
4. At least five calendar days prior to the event, the applicant shall submit a five hundred dollar ($500.00) deposit to the City to ensure adequate cleanup of the site following termination of the event.
5.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4940544; v16 updated 2026-06-23).
Full Breakdown
Union City Municipal Code § 18.54.030(C) classifies multiple-vendor events, arts and crafts fairs, holiday boutiques and similar sales, as administrative use permits when held on a developed commercial or industrial site with the property owner's written consent. Events cannot run on vacant parcels, are capped at five consecutive days, and require a $500 cleanup deposit submitted at least five calendar days beforehand. Applicants must file a site plan showing parking and emergency access with the Economic and Community Development Department, and any event signage must meet Chapter 18.30's sign rules. Nonprofit and charitable events, and single vendor operations like food carts, fall outside this permit category.
Violations & Fines
Holding a multi-vendor event without an administrative use permit, exceeding the five-day cap, or skipping the $500 deposit can bring a stop-order, fines, or forfeiture of the site's ability to host future events.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days can a Union City street fair or vendor event run?
Is a deposit required for a temporary vendor event in Union City?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Union City
California rules heatmap·Compare Union City to another location·View the California special events & permits overview
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Street Fair Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle street fair rules.