Westminster, CA Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- WMC Chapter 9.61
- Application window
- 9 months to 60 days before event
- Council review triggers
- public property or 1,000+ attendees
- Fee waiver
- none, even for nonprofits
- Insurance minimum
- $2,000,000 general liability
- Late permit penalty
- double the original fee
Summary
Street fairs in Westminster need a special event permit under Chapter 9.61 before they can happen. Applications go in 9 months to 60 days ahead, nonprofit status buys no fee waiver, and events on public property or drawing over 1,000 people need city council, not staff, approval.
§ 9.61.020. Special event permit required. A. No special event shall take place within the city unless a special event permit has been issued. Applications for a permit may be submitted no sooner than nine months in advance of the proposed date and no later than sixty days in advance of the proposed date. ... B. ... a special event permit shall be approved and granted by the city council, in its discretion, if any one of the following circumstances apply: (1) if the event is scheduled to take place on public property; (2) if the event is likely to attract more than one thousand persons (including workers, spectators and participants), or (3) if it is determined to be necessary by the city manager or his/her designee. (Ord. 2318 § 1, 2001)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4982734; v10 updated 2026-06-10).
Full Breakdown
010(B)). 020 requires a permit before any qualifying event takes place; applications may be filed no sooner than nine months and no later than sixty days before the proposed date. Routine approvals rest with the city manager or designee, but the city council itself must approve any event set for public property, expected to draw more than 1,000 people (including workers, spectators, and participants), or flagged by the manager as needing council review. 030 requires the sponsor's contact information, a written description of the activity, expected attendance, hours, and, if the sponsor doesn't own the site, the property owner's signed consent accepting responsibility for uncovered damages.
040 imposes a nonrefundable permit review fee that applies to every applicant and is not waived for nonprofit or charitable organizations, plus possible rental fees and cash deposits for city services or post-event cleanup, with the sponsor liable for any shortfall. 070 bars alcohol at the event without an ABC permit. 080 requires $2,000,000 in commercial general liability coverage naming the city as additional insured. 110 doubles the permit fee for any required license obtained after the three-day-before deadline.
Violations & Fines
Operating a street fair without the required permit, or failing to meet permit conditions, subjects the sponsor to cancellation of the permit (Section 9.61.100) and denial of future special event applications (Section 9.61.110). Obtaining any required license after the three-day-prior deadline doubles that fee. General code violations otherwise default to the citywide misdemeanor penalty in Section 1.12.010.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to hold a street fair in Westminster?
How far ahead must I apply for a Westminster street fair permit?
Is the permit fee waived for a nonprofit street fair?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Westminster
California rules heatmap·Compare Westminster to another location·View the California special events & permits overview
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Street Fair Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Orange County handle street fair rules.