Waco, TX Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)

Chapter 13, Article XIV defines 'special event' broadly enough to capture most street fairs and festivals: Section 13-481 counts an event as a special event, and therefore subject to the permit article, if it is expected to draw 50 or more attendees on public property and involves the sale or distribution of merchandise, food or beverages, the installation of a stage, band shell, truck, trailer, booth, grandstand or bleachers, or the placement of portable restrooms. That trigger is what pulls a typical street fair, with its rows of vendor booths and food trucks, into the same outdoor events manager permit process used for parades.

Once the event is permitted, Section 13-495 layers vendor-specific rules on top of the general permit. Subsection (b) bars any alcohol sale at the event unless the applicant holds an alcohol permit from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, and requires that permit to be posted and visible to the public; if TABC otherwise requires a permit, such as when alcohol is limited to paying guests or ticket holders, no alcohol may be served without one. Subsection (c) makes the applicant responsible for contacting the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District to obtain the necessary permits and food-handling procedures for any food sold or served at the event, which covers festival food-vendor booths and trucks alike.

The event's site plan, required under Section 13-484(a)(8), must also show the location of every booth, vendor, stage, generator, tent and portable restroom so city departments can review vendor placement for fire lanes and pedestrian access before the event opens.