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Special Events & Permits in Georgia (2026)

120 rules on the books across Georgia, 42 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.

Cherokee County

Significant Restrictions

Cherokee County requires a special event permit before anyone can hold a block party on public property or a street…

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Columbia County

Significant Restrictions

Any gathering expected to block a Columbia County street, including a neighborhood block party, needs a public assembly…

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Johns Creek

Significant Restrictions

Anyone using Johns Creek public roads or property for an event, including most block parties, needs a city permit…

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Marietta

Significant Restrictions

Marietta treats any parade, demonstration, ceremony or similar street display, including a neighborhood block party, as…

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Roswell

Significant Restrictions

Roswell requires a special event permit before closing a street or affecting normal use of parks, sidewalks, or…

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Sandy Springs

Significant Restrictions

Sandy Springs treats a block party as a special event requiring a permit whenever it uses city streets. City Code…

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South Fulton

Significant Restrictions

South Fulton's special events chapter names block parties as a type of special event, and Sec. 17-9002 makes it…

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Troup County

Significant Restrictions

A special event permit in unincorporated Troup County can let the County close designated streets, roads and…

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Atlanta

Some Restrictions

A block party that closes any Atlanta street or sidewalk needs a street or sidewalk closure permit from the Atlanta…

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Catoosa County

Some Restrictions

Catoosa County has no separate block party permit; a temporary street or sidewalk closure for a private or community…

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Clayton County

Some Restrictions

Closing any street, sidewalk or public way for a block party in unincorporated Clayton County needs sign-off from the…

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Columbus

Some Restrictions

Anyone outside the Columbus consolidated government who wants to close a public street or right-of-way for a block…

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Decatur

Some Restrictions

Section 86-153(4) of the Decatur, DeKalb County, Georgia Code excuses a city block party that has received a block…

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Walker County

Some Restrictions

A block party or other event that closes a street, sidewalk or public way in unincorporated Walker County needs…

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Alpharetta

Light Restrictions

In the City of Alpharetta, a neighborhood block party held mainly on subdivision streets, with only limited use of…

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Dunwoody

Light Restrictions

Neighborhood parades and block parties in Dunwoody are exempt from the city's event permit process under Code of…

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Park Event Permits

Permits required for organized events in public parks, including group size thresholds, amplified sound rules, and reservation procedures.

Acworth

Significant Restrictions

Acworth Code § 58-3(a)(14) bars exclusively reserving any park area, facility or parking lot without a permit, and…

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Alpharetta

Significant Restrictions

Under Sec. 32-4(a)(9) of the Alpharetta Code of Ordinances, any organized assembly of 25 or more people in a city park…

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Augusta-Richmond County

Significant Restrictions

Any group of 50 or more people wanting to use an Augusta-Richmond County park, baseball or softball field, tennis…

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Cherokee County

Significant Restrictions

Restricted uses in a Cherokee County park or recreation facility, including athletic field rentals, pavilion bookings…

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Coweta County

Significant Restrictions

Coweta County requires any sponsor holding a tournament or special event at a parks and recreation facility to sign an…

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Fayette County

Significant Restrictions

Any group planning to use a Fayette County park for more than five people, whether for a picnic, party, sports event…

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Glynn County

Significant Restrictions

Entering, remaining in or parking at a Glynn County park, historic site or recreational area during hours the Board of…

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Johns Creek

Significant Restrictions

Johns Creek requires a special event permit before any activity, fairs, festivals, races, concerts, parties…

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Rockdale County

Significant Restrictions

Anyone planning to use a county park, street or other public property in unincorporated Rockdale County for a gathering…

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Sandy Springs

Significant Restrictions

Sandy Springs requires a permit or ticket for any activity in a city park that needs one, and the recreation and parks…

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South Fulton

Significant Restrictions

Any gathering that significantly affects the normal use of a City of South Fulton park, from festivals to concerts to…

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Atlanta

Some Restrictions

Reserving a pavilion or other outdoor facility in an Atlanta park requires a facility reservation permit from the…

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Barrow County

Some Restrictions

Reserving a county recreation area in unincorporated Barrow County runs through the Parks and Recreation Board, which…

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Brookhaven

Some Restrictions

In the City of Brookhaven, Georgia, a park area or picnic shelter is reserved for group activities by application to…

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Chatham County

Some Restrictions

Chatham County bans camping and overnight gatherings in its county parks unless the Director of Public Works and Park…

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Clayton County

Some Restrictions

Any group of more than 15 people wanting to use a Clayton County park for a picnic, party, sports event, or performance…

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DeKalb County

Some Restrictions

Groups wanting a DeKalb County park area or picnic shelter must apply to the parks department and pay a board-set…

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Dunwoody

Some Restrictions

Anyone holding an activity in a Dunwoody park that requires a permit or ticket, including special events, rentals or…

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Forsyth County

Some Restrictions

Restricted uses and events at Forsyth County parks and recreation facilities require a permit from the parks and…

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Jackson County

Some Restrictions

Special events at Bear Creek Reservoir must be arranged through the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department and…

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Macon Bibb County

Some Restrictions

Macon-Bibb County requires written permission from the Directors of Recreation and of Parks & Beautification before…

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Roswell

Some Restrictions

Roswell's Recreation, Parks, Historic and Cultural Affairs Department schedules all organized gatherings, programs, and…

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Stonecrest

Some Restrictions

In the City of Stonecrest, reserving a park area or picnic shelter for a group activity requires an application to the…

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Warner Robins

Some Restrictions

Renting a Warner Robins public facility for a private event like a wedding, reunion, or party requires a permit under…

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Whitfield County

Some Restrictions

Anyone wanting to hold a picnic, fundraiser, special event, approved food service or facility rental in a Whitfield…

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Parade Permits

How parades and processions are permitted, including route approval, traffic-control requirements, insurance, and First Amendment carve-outs for political marches.

Alpharetta

Significant Restrictions

In the City of Alpharetta, no person or organization may conduct or knowingly join a parade, motorcade or special event…

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Atlanta

Significant Restrictions

Atlanta requires an assembly permit for any parade, march, or procession on city streets, sidewalks, or parks: apply at…

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Augusta-Richmond County

Significant Restrictions

Augusta-Richmond County requires a Sheriff-issued permit before any parade, march, demonstration, or public assembly of…

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Barrow County

Significant Restrictions

Unincorporated Barrow County requires a temporary event permit for public gatherings like carnivals, fairs and…

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Brookhaven

Significant Restrictions

In the City of Brookhaven, Georgia, Code § 17-362 makes it unlawful to hold or take part in a parade without a parade…

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Carroll County

Significant Restrictions

Carroll County's Board of Commissioners can require a permit, or ban outright, for parades, motorcades and other public…

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Chatham County

Significant Restrictions

Anyone who wants to hold a parade or public assembly in unincorporated Chatham County must get a permit from the County…

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Cobb County

Significant Restrictions

Cobb County requires a parade permit for any parade of 25 or more people or five or more vehicles on county streets…

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Columbia County

Significant Restrictions

Columbia County requires a permit for any parade or public assembly that disrupts traffic or is held on county…

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Columbus

Significant Restrictions

Columbus, Georgia requires a permit from the chief of police before any parade, march, or procession on city streets…

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Coweta County

Significant Restrictions

Coweta County requires a right-of-way usage permit before staging any event, such as a foot race, bike ride, fun run…

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Decatur

Significant Restrictions

Article VI of Chapter 86 in the Decatur, DeKalb County, Georgia Code requires a special event permit from the director…

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DeKalb County

Significant Restrictions

Anyone holding or joining a parade in unincorporated DeKalb County needs a permit first. Code § 17-221 makes it…

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Effingham County

Significant Restrictions

Holding a parade, procession, or public assemblage in a street, square, or park in unincorporated Effingham County…

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Fayette County

Significant Restrictions

Anyone organizing a parade or public assembly in unincorporated Fayette County must get a permit from the sheriff…

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Forsyth County

Significant Restrictions

Any private organization or group of more than three people must obtain a county permit before holding a parade…

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Glynn County

Significant Restrictions

Any parade, demonstration or public assembly of more than 100 people on Glynn County property requires a permit from…

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Hall County

Significant Restrictions

Hall County requires a special events business license, issued at the board of commissioners' discretion, before anyone…

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Henry County

Significant Restrictions

Henry County requires a special event license before anyone can hold a mass gathering of 10,000 or more people in the…

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Jackson County

Significant Restrictions

Anyone planning to picket or demonstrate in unincorporated Jackson County must give the board of commissioners and…

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Johns Creek

Significant Restrictions

Johns Creek requires a written permit for any parade, march, demonstration, or procession of 10+ people or 5+ vehicles…

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Marietta

Significant Restrictions

Marietta requires a parade permit from the office of the city manager before any parade, march, demonstration, road…

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Rockdale County

Significant Restrictions

Unincorporated Rockdale County requires a permit before anyone holds a parade, festival, race, procession or other…

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Roswell

Significant Restrictions

Roswell requires a permit before any parade, march, assembly, or demonstration that uses public streets or property for…

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Sandy Springs

Significant Restrictions

Sandy Springs requires a city permit before any parade, march, procession, rally, or similar public assembly can use…

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South Fulton

Significant Restrictions

Any parade, march, demonstration or procession involving five or more vehicles or ten or more people needs a written…

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Stonecrest

Significant Restrictions

The City of Stonecrest requires a parade permit before any group holds or joins a parade under Code section 17-221…

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Troup County

Significant Restrictions

Parades, marches and processions in unincorporated Troup County need a special event permit and must follow a…

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Walton County

Significant Restrictions

Anyone planning a parade, demonstration, assembly or picketing in unincorporated Walton County must apply to the board…

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Warner Robins

Significant Restrictions

Warner Robins requires a permit from the police chief's office for any parade of 30 or more people or public assembly…

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Acworth

Some Restrictions

Acworth requires a parade permit from the city manager's office before anyone leads, joins or starts a parade, march…

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Catoosa County

Some Restrictions

Anyone organizing a parade, march, rally, or other special event on a public street, sidewalk, or right-of-way in…

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Clayton County

Some Restrictions

A parade or march on any public street or right-of-way in unincorporated Clayton County is a 'special event' under Sec…

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Dunwoody

Some Restrictions

Anyone planning a parade, public assemblage, or special event in Dunwoody must get a city permit first under Code of…

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Fulton County

Some Restrictions

In unincorporated Fulton County, any parade, foot race, bikeathon or fundraising walk that uses the public right-of-way…

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Walker County

Some Restrictions

A parade, march, rally or other special event on a public street, sidewalk or right-of-way in unincorporated Walker…

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Paulding County

Light Restrictions

Paulding County has no stand-alone parade-permit application; instead, § 70-3 lets the sheriff issue temporary traffic…

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Street Fair Rules

Permits and operating standards for street fairs and farmers markets, including vendor sourcing, alcohol handling, and street closure procedures.

Acworth

Significant Restrictions

Acworth Code §§ 58-91 through 58-99 govern festivals on city streets, parks and other public property, requiring the…

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Chatham County

Significant Restrictions

Chatham County requires a permit from the County Manager before anyone holds a parade, festival, fair, or public…

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Columbia County

Significant Restrictions

Columbia County defines a festival as an outdoor concert, fair or similar commercial/recreational event, and requires…

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Columbus

Significant Restrictions

Columbus, Georgia requires City Manager approval for street fairs, festivals and similar events lasting five or more…

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Coweta County

Significant Restrictions

Coweta County requires a special use permit before any festival, concert, fair, or other tourism event can be held on…

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Hall County

Significant Restrictions

Operating a flea market, outdoor exhibition, outdoor musical festival, or other outdoor public assembly in…

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Paulding County

Significant Restrictions

Street fairs, carnivals and community fairs in Paulding County are regulated as Temporary Outdoor Activities under UDO…

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Rockdale County

Significant Restrictions

Vending at a street fair or festival on public property in unincorporated Rockdale County is controlled entirely by the…

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Roswell

Significant Restrictions

Roswell requires street fairs and festivals with vendor booths, stages, or alcohol sales to be detailed in a special…

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Atlanta

Some Restrictions

Atlanta folds vending rights into its outdoor festival permit: a Class A commercial festival permit runs up to $15,000…

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Barrow County

Some Restrictions

Barrow County requires a temporary event permit for any street fair, festival, carnival or similar gathering held on…

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Brookhaven

Some Restrictions

In the City of Brookhaven, Georgia, vendors at a street fair or festival work under the event producer's authority: the…

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Catoosa County

Some Restrictions

Food and merchandise vendors at a festival or street fair in unincorporated Catoosa County must be authorized in…

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Clayton County

Some Restrictions

A festival or celebration in unincorporated Clayton County is a 'special event' requiring a permit, and street vendors…

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Cobb County

Some Restrictions

Cobb County zoning treats street fairs as a temporary use limited to 30 days, requiring adequate off-street parking for…

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DeKalb County

Some Restrictions

Street fairs, carnivals and community festivals in unincorporated DeKalb County need a special administrative permit…

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Floyd County

Some Restrictions

A carnival, festival, or "special outdoor entertainment, or event of community interest" in unincorporated Floyd County…

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Fulton County

Some Restrictions

Festivals in unincorporated Fulton County that market beyond the local community and expect 250 or more attendees at…

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Glynn County

Some Restrictions

Festival organizers in unincorporated Glynn County can register once and pay a single occupation tax covering every…

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Jackson County

Some Restrictions

Outdoor swap meets and craft shows in unincorporated Jackson County, the closest the Unified Development Code comes to…

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Macon Bibb County

Some Restrictions

Anyone setting up a street party, fair, festival, carnival, or itinerant meeting in Macon-Bibb County needs a health…

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Marietta

Some Restrictions

Marietta's city manager can approve temporary, city-sanctioned use of public sidewalks for arts promotions and special…

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Sandy Springs

Some Restrictions

Sandy Springs lets food and merchandise vendors sell at a street fair or festival only if the event's producer…

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South Fulton

Some Restrictions

Street fairs and festivals in South Fulton fall under the special events permit, and Sec. 17-9006 lets food and…

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Stonecrest

Some Restrictions

In the City of Stonecrest, art shows, carnival rides, festivals and other special events of community interest inside…

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Troup County

Some Restrictions

In unincorporated Troup County, any street fair or special event needs a County permit before it can operate, and every…

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Parklets

Curbside parklets converting parking spaces into outdoor dining or public seating, including LADOT People St guidelines, ADA, and seasonal-removal rules.

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.

Columbus

Significant Restrictions

An outdoor cafe on the public right-of-way in Columbus's CRD zoning district needs an encroachment permit from the…

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Marietta

Significant Restrictions

Marietta requires a city-issued encroachment permit before any restaurant places cafe tables or chairs on the sidewalk…

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Atlanta

Some Restrictions

Atlanta requires a right-of-way dining permit from the Department of Transportation before any restaurant sets tables…

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Augusta-Richmond County

Some Restrictions

Augusta-Richmond County requires a sidewalk cafe permit from the Planning & Development Director before restaurants can…

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Columbia County

Some Restrictions

Outdoor seating at a restaurant or coffee shop is a limited accessory use under Columbia County Code § 90-147(i)(8)…

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Decatur

Some Restrictions

In the City of Decatur, Georgia, a restaurant that wants to put dining tables on the public sidewalk or a patio must…

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DeKalb County

Some Restrictions

Unincorporated DeKalb County lets restaurants and coffee shops set up outdoor seating on public or private sidewalks in…

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Gwinnett County

Some Restrictions

Restaurants in unincorporated Gwinnett County may add sidewalk seating under UDO Section 230-30.17, but a sidewalk cafe…

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Johns Creek

Some Restrictions

Johns Creek requires an Administrative Permit for restaurant and cafe seating placed in front or side yards, parking…

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Macon Bibb County

Some Restrictions

Restaurants in Macon-Bibb County's Sidewalk Café District, the CBD-1 core of downtown, need an annual Tax Commissioner…

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Roswell

Some Restrictions

Roswell, Georgia restaurants must obtain a sidewalk cafe license before placing outdoor dining in the public…

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Stonecrest

Some Restrictions

In the City of Stonecrest, outdoor seating and sidewalk dining fall under Zoning Ordinance § 4.2.37, Outdoor display…

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Troup County

Some Restrictions

In unincorporated Troup County, restaurants can extend outdoor dining onto adjoining sidewalks under the Unified…

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