Wicomico County, MD Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)

Chapter 110, adopted August 18, 1970 by Ordinance No. 32 and last amended in 2006, defines an 'outdoor musical festival' as any group participating in or listening to musical entertainment in open spaces outside a permanent structure, and makes the promoter, meaning the organizer, operator, producer, or the property's owner, tenant, or lessee, responsible for securing a special entertainment permit before the event (§§ 110-2, 110-3). The application goes to the County's Director of Administration at least 21 days before the festival, in duplicate, and the Director must approve or disapprove it within 10 days of receipt, notifying the promoter by registered mail with the reasons if denied (§ 110-4).

Required attachments listed in § 110-5 include the number of tickets to be sold and spectators expected; the promoters' names, addresses, and financial resources and the performers' names; the proposed site and its owners, tenants, and lessees; a sanitary facilities plan approved by the Wicomico County Health Department; food, lodging, and water plans also approved by the Health Department; a medical facilities plan; a parking and vehicular movement plan approved by the Sheriff of Wicomico County; a fire protection plan approved by the County Fire Marshal; and, where outdoor lighting is used, a shielding plan to limit spillover onto neighboring properties and roads.

Anyone under 18 may attend only with a parent who stays for the entire performance, and law enforcement must be given written permission to enter the grounds to enforce the chapter (§ 110-5).