Special Events & Permits in Maryland (2026)

Howard County requires a special event permit for any block party, defined in County Code § 17.900(b) as an outdoor…

Anyone who wants to close a Prince George's County road for a block party or other event needs written permission from…

Closing a county street for a block party requires a special event permit filed 90 days ahead through Inspections and…

Any nonprofit group that wants to hold a public entertainment event, picnic, or gathering in Baltimore County needs a…

Frederick lets residents apply for a block party permit under City Code Section 18-17, but caps each block at two block…

Rockville requires a City license before any block party, parade, marathon, or other event that closes or interferes…

Annapolis exempts block parties from its special event permit requirement, but only if the gathering closes no more…

Anyone seeking exclusive use of a Carroll County park facility, or any activity the Manager decides needs one, must get…

Frederick requires a permit under City Code Sec. 6-17 for anyone reserving a specific space in a City park, issued…

Reserving a Gaithersburg city park, athletic field or facility for a public event, picnic, private gathering or…

Harford County's Department of Parks and Recreation issues permits for exclusive use of a park facility entirely at its…

Reserving a pavilion, athletic field, or camp site in a Howard County park, or holding any activity listed in Sec…

Anne Arundel County requires written permission from the Recreation and Parks Director for any organized gathering of…

Baltimore County requires a Department of Recreation and Parks permit for any exclusive group use of a park or part of…

Reserving a Cecil County park facility for exclusive group use requires a permit under § 261-4, reviewed by the Parks…

Prince George's County requires a permit before anyone holds an outdoor picnic, dance, or other public entertainment…

Hosting a picnic or event with alcohol in a Rockville city park requires a permit from the City Manager, plus payment…

Reserving an athletic field, court, pavilion or other park space in unincorporated Wicomico County requires a permit…

Events held in parks the City of Annapolis owns or administers do not need a Chapter 14.18 special event permit, except…

Annapolis requires a special event permit from the Special Events Coordinator before any parade, assembly, show, or…

Anyone organizing a parade, a gathering of 500 or more people, or another event that closes streets, uses county…

Frederick requires a permit before anyone conducts a parade, race, or walkathon on city streets, parks, or public…

Gaithersburg requires a special events permit from the city manager before anyone hosts an outdoor parade, festival…

Harford County's code has no separate parade ordinance; its public-assembly permit chapter instead covers concerts…

Howard County requires a special event permit before any parade, defined as a march or procession on a public street…

Washington County, Maryland classifies parades as an "Entertainment Event" once expected attendance tops 250 people…

A parade permit from the Director of Permits, Approvals and Inspections is required before anyone may organize, join…

Any parade, festival, or public event that requires closing a Prince George's County road needs written permission from…

Any street fair, festival, or gathering of more than twenty-five people on Annapolis streets, alleys, or other public…

Anne Arundel County requires a special event permit for any street fair or festival that closes public streets, alleys…

Frederick requires a permit for any outdoor festival or large private event drawing 2,000 or more attendees, filed 90…

A street festival counts as a 'public assembly' special event under County Code § 17.900(l), and organizers must get a…

Mobile food vending on public streets and sidewalks is banned in Prince George's County, but Code Sec. 12-115(c)(5)…

Washington County, Maryland treats fairs, carnivals, and bonanzas as "Entertainment Events" once expected attendance…

Anyone promoting an outdoor musical festival in unincorporated Wicomico County needs a special entertainment permit…

Baltimore County requires a Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections permit for carnivals, circuses, lawn…

In unincorporated Harford County, carnivals, circuses and public events such as festivals and craft shows need a zoning…

Annapolis lets restaurants convert City-owned on-street parking spaces into outdoor dining under a Department of Public…

Annapolis requires a City permit or lease for all outdoor dining, sidewalk cafés, street cafés, and seasonal parking…

Frederick restaurants in the downtown DB zoning district need an annual permit to operate a sidewalk cafe. Rules…

Anne Arundel County lets restaurants that set up pandemic-era outdoor seating keep it permanently under § 18-2-207, but…

Baltimore County's zoning regulations let a restaurant or tavern in a B.L.R. Zone inside the Urban-Rural Demarcation…

Gaithersburg treats an outdoor dining addition as a minor amendment to a restaurant's approved site development plan…

In unincorporated Harford County, restaurants may extend outdoor dining into the required yard setback under Harford…

Restaurants and bars in Montgomery County need Board of License Commissioners approval before adding outdoor cafe…

Prince George's County's Zoning Ordinance lets restaurants add or expand outdoor dining without meeting standard…