Special Events & Permits in Alabama (2026)
30 rules on the books across Alabama, 9 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Block Party Permits
How to get a permit to close your street for a block party, including application timelines, neighbor consent requirements, and insurance needs.
Birmingham
Significant RestrictionsBirmingham has no separate "block party permit" form: closing a public street for an event runs through the city…
Read full rule →Mobile
Significant RestrictionsMobile, Alabama requires a block party permit from the police department before any street, park, or public gathering…
Read full rule →Montgomery
Significant RestrictionsMontgomery, Alabama requires a special event permit before any 'gathering of persons, animals or vehicles upon public…
Read full rule →Tuscaloosa
Significant RestrictionsTuscaloosa requires a special event permit before anyone may organize, hold, or take part in a parade, race, block…
Read full rule →Huntsville
Some RestrictionsHuntsville requires a special event permit for organized events on public streets, sidewalks, and parks unless the…
Read full rule →Park Event Permits
Permits required for organized events in public parks, including group size thresholds, amplified sound rules, and reservation procedures.
Bessemer
Significant RestrictionsAnyone wanting exclusive use of a Bessemer park, a group larger than nine, or a special event must get a permit from…
Read full rule →Huntsville
Significant RestrictionsHuntsville requires a special event permit before holding most organized gatherings in a city park, though small minor…
Read full rule →Tuscaloosa
Significant RestrictionsTuscaloosa requires a permit for any organized or sanctioned event held on the waters of Lake Tuscaloosa or on the city…
Read full rule →Hoover
Some RestrictionsReserving a picnic shelter, gazebo or other public park amenity in Hoover for an event requires paying the special…
Read full rule →Montgomery
Some RestrictionsAnyone wanting to use a Montgomery park for an activity beyond ordinary public use, a reunion, tournament, rally or…
Read full rule →Vestavia Hills
Some RestrictionsGroups of 25 or more must register with the Vestavia Hills office of parks and recreation at least 72 hours before…
Read full rule →Parade Permits
How parades and processions are permitted, including route approval, traffic-control requirements, insurance, and First Amendment carve-outs for political marches.
Auburn
Significant RestrictionsAuburn requires a parade permit from the chief of police before anyone may engage in, participate in, aid, form or…
Read full rule →Bessemer
Significant RestrictionsNo parade, procession or public demonstration may use Bessemer's streets without a permit from the chief of police…
Read full rule →Hoover
Significant RestrictionsHoover requires a special event permit, covering parades, marches and similar public gatherings, filed at least 30 days…
Read full rule →Huntsville
Significant RestrictionsHuntsville requires a special event permit for parades, processions, and assemblies held on city streets, sidewalks, or…
Read full rule →Mobile
Significant RestrictionsMobile, Alabama requires a police department permit before any parade, march, or organized procession uses a city…
Read full rule →Montgomery
Significant RestrictionsMontgomery requires a special event permit before anyone may hold a parade, march, demonstration, or other organized…
Read full rule →Tuscaloosa
Significant RestrictionsAny parade, march, race, or other special event on Tuscaloosa streets, sidewalks, or parks needs a permit from the arts…
Read full rule →Birmingham
Some RestrictionsBirmingham requires a permit from the city traffic engineer before any parade, demonstration, race, or special event…
Read full rule →Street Fair Rules
Permits and operating standards for street fairs and farmers markets, including vendor sourcing, alcohol handling, and street closure procedures.
Hoover
Significant RestrictionsSelling food, goods or wares from a stand, tent or table on a Hoover street, sidewalk or park during a festival…
Read full rule →Huntsville
Significant RestrictionsVendors at Huntsville street fairs and festivals operating under an event sponsor don't need a separate vendor's…
Read full rule →Mobile
Significant RestrictionsMobile, Alabama requires a city permit before anyone holds, conducts, or operates a fair on public or private property…
Read full rule →Tuscaloosa
Significant RestrictionsAny street fair, festival, or other special event on Tuscaloosa public property needs a special event permit from the…
Read full rule →Auburn
Some RestrictionsAuburn allows sidewalk sales and festival vendor displays only inside the entertainment district and only during…
Read full rule →Birmingham
Some RestrictionsBirmingham lets vendors sell at a permitted sidewalk or street sale inside the downtown study area and neighborhood…
Read full rule →Montgomery
Some RestrictionsSelling at a street fair, craft show or festival in Montgomery, Alabama runs through the city's transient-business…
Read full rule →Sidewalk Dining & Cafés
Permits for tables and seating in the public right-of-way, café and al-fresco programs, clearance widths, barriers, and the operating conditions attached to a sidewalk-dining permit.
Auburn
Significant RestrictionsAuburn requires any restaurant that wants to serve food or drinks on a public sidewalk to hold an outdoor cafe permit…
Read full rule →Birmingham
Significant RestrictionsA Birmingham restaurant that wants to serve customers on the sidewalk needs an outdoor cafe permit from the city…
Read full rule →Huntsville
Significant RestrictionsRestaurants in Huntsville's central city core need a $100 annual sidewalk cafe permit before putting tables on the…
Read full rule →Tuscaloosa
Significant RestrictionsTuscaloosa requires a separate sidewalk cafe permit before any restaurant can put tables and chairs on the public…
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