Special Events & Permits in Tennessee (2026)

Only the county Department of Engineering and Public Works can close a county roadway to traffic. Anyone else wanting…

Murfreesboro Code § 21-62 names block parties as a type of "special event," so one on a public street generally needs a…

Chattanooga requires an organizer to get a Transportation Department special events permit before any block party that…

Memphis residents who want to close a residential street or alley for a block party must get a Temporary Road/Alley…

Metro Nashville requires a special event permit before closing a street for a block party expected to draw more than 75…

A Franklin block party held on private property without a street closure needs no permit unless 200 or more people…

Chattanooga City Code § 26-13 requires a permit from the Administrator of Public Works for any organized park gathering…

Holding a meeting, ceremony, exhibition, sale, or organized gathering in a Hendersonville city park takes a permit from…

Reserving a Knox County park or field for a special event runs through Sec. 27-11(b): file an application with the…

Hosting an event at a Knoxville city park or facility requires an administrator-issued permit, proof of insurance, and…

Memphis parks, playgrounds, and other open spaces are reserved for recreational use; anyone wanting to hold a…

Shelby County requires written permission before anyone stages a sports event, pageant, reenactment, regatta or other…

Any group that wants to use a Clarksville public park or recreation area for a carnival, fair, festival or similar…

Metro Nashville requires a Board of Parks and Recreation permit before holding any meeting, ceremony, speech, or…

Franklin charges set daily fees to reserve city park pavilions and event facilities, from $100 for a small pavilion up…

Franklin requires a permit from the city administrator or Board of Mayor and Aldermen before anyone organizes a parade…

Any club, organization, or group holding a parade, demonstration, meeting, or exhibition on Hendersonville's public…

Any parade, march, or procession on a Knoxville street, park, or public place needs a permit from the chief of police…

Memphis requires a permit from the city permit office, issued after consultation with the police director, before…

Any parade in Murfreesboro is a regulated "special event" under Code § 21-62, and Code § 21-63 bars anyone from…

Metro Nashville requires a parade permit from the police chief filed at least six days ahead, with recreational parades…

Any march, parade, athletic event, block party, festival or motorcade that restricts traffic flow on a Chattanooga…

Clarksville requires a permit from the parks and recreation department before any parade, carnival, circus, fair or…

Shelby County requires written notice to the sheriff 72 hours to 30 days before any street procession that could impede…

No carnival, circus, fair, festival or parade can operate in Clarksville without a permit from the Department of Parks…

Street fairs and festivals in Murfreesboro count as special events under city code and need a City Manager-issued…

A carnival, circus or street fair on unincorporated Rutherford County land needs a Board of Zoning Appeals temporary…

Street fairs, festivals, carnivals and similar events on private property in Williamson County need Special Use…

Chattanooga requires a temporary use permit for festivals, carnivals, flea markets, and similar sales events on private…

Franklin requires a special event permit for street fairs, festivals, and similar public gatherings on city property…

Hendersonville allows civic, non-profit and religious festivals, bazaars and farmers markets under a temporary use…

Knox County licenses festival and parade vendors as "street barkers" under Code § 12-26, lets them cry out to attract…

Anyone connected with a street fair or carnival in Memphis needs a permit from the director of police services before…

Metro Nashville requires a special event permit for any street fair or festival on public property, with a $230 permit…

Sumner County requires a Temporary Use Permit before anyone stages a street fair, carnival, or community/tent-assembly…

Metro Nashville requires a permit from the Mayor's Office of Film and Special Events for any commercial filming that…

Metro Nashville requires a one-year NDOT permit before anyone installs a parklet or streatery in a street parking…

A "parklet café" is a restaurant or bar's expansion onto the public street right-of-way beside its premises, built for…

Metro Nashville requires a yearly NDOT permit before any restaurant can set up permanent sidewalk cafe dining in the…

Franklin's sidewalk cafe application requires a copy of the business's license, proof of liability insurance naming the…

A Hendersonville restaurant or brewery tap room can add outdoor seating as an accessory use under Zoning Ordinance…

Restaurants serving alcohol on a Murfreesboro sidewalk need a City-issued permit or license: open-container service…