Special Events & Permits in Washington (2026)

Kennewick requires an Event Street Closure Permit from Public Works for block parties, races and other special events…

Closing any Kent street or road, even for a block party, requires a permit from the public works director, who can…

Auburn treats a block party as a Type B short-term right-of-way use permit, covering closures of less than 30 days for…

Bellevue's traffic engineer issues special permits to close a city street or traffic lane to vehicle traffic, the…

Small block parties in Bellingham skip special-event fees, insurance, and indemnification if they draw 300 people or…

Federal Way requires a right-of-way activity permit for a block party, filed with the city clerk under FWRC 4.30.120…

Countywide, Island County's special-event rules give the Rural Residential zoning district only the lightest tier…

In the City of Olympia, Washington, the chief of police can close a street to vehicle travel or restrict parking for a…

A Pasco special events permit that includes closing a street or intersection, the mechanism used for a block party…

Closing a Port Townsend street for a block party requires a temporary use/event permit under PTMC 17.60, with the…

Puyallup names block parties directly in its special events definition, and any special event using city streets…

Renton counts a block party as a special event under RMC 5-22, requiring a permit filed at least 90 days ahead unless…

Shoreline lets residents close a street for a block party only under a right-of-way permit and the notice standards in…

Spokane Valley names block parties directly in its "special event" definition, and any street dance on a public street…

Tacoma block parties still need a special event permit, but a small, non-commercial, resident-sponsored one-block…

Edmonds exempts neighborhood block parties from its special event permit requirement, though ECC 4.100.030(F) still…

Everett defines a neighborhood block party as a one-day resident event that closes a city street, and it waives the…

Neighborhood block parties, garage sales, parades and holiday celebrations are named temporary uses under LMC…

A Marysville block party stays outside the special event permit system only if it's held entirely on private property…

Yakima carves block parties out of its full special event permit process: YMC § 9.70.030(b)(10) exempts them from the…

Lynnwood, Washington does not require a special event permit for a neighborhood block party. LMC 5.30.030(G)(5) lists…

Benton County bars anyone from holding a meeting, assembly, entertainment, or business transaction in a county park…

In the City of Bothell, Washington, holding, sponsoring or participating in any formal gathering in a city park or park…

Holding an assembly, entertainment, meeting or business transaction inside a Chelan County park requires the written…

To reserve part of Grays Harbor County Park or its facilities for an organized event, an individual, group, or…

Reserving a park facility or gathering space in a Lakewood, Washington city park requires a special use permit from the…

Anyone holding a special event in a Lewis County park or recreation area needs a permit under § 12.05.170. The…

Anyone hosting a special event or gathering at a Mason County park in unincorporated Mason County needs a special event…

Groups wanting to use a Pasco city park beyond its 10:00 p.m. closing time, or for an organized recreation event, need…

Pierce County requires a permit from the Parks and Recreation Director before anyone can hold an organized run, walk…

Any group wanting to hold a rally, gathering, or special event in a Renton park needs a Special Use Permit from the…

In the City of Richland, Washington, using a city park for an activity the park rules otherwise forbid, such as…

Holding a special event in a Spokane Valley city park requires a permit from the parks and recreation director, filed…

Religious services and group rallies in a Thurston County park require advance written permission from the county's…

Anyone organizing entertainment, a demonstration, or a public gathering in an Auburn park needs a permit from the parks…

Any use of amplified sound at a Bellevue park event, from a PA system to a live band, needs a permit once it carries…

Bellingham requires written permission from the parks and recreation director for special events in city parks, filed…

In the City of Burien, Washington, any community special or private event held in a park facility needs a facility use…

Unincorporated Cowlitz County protects reserved park areas by making it unlawful to interfere with the authorized use…

Groups expected to fill a tenth or more of a city park or facility's capacity must reserve the space in advance with a…

Federal Way requires written reservations through the parks and recreation department's recreation division before any…

Anyone who wants exclusive use of a Franklin County park facility must reserve it through the park caretaker or the…

Any group of 50 or more people must get a free permit from the Parks and Recreation Department before meeting or…

Kennewick city parks close one-half hour after sunset until 6:00 a.m., except the Lawrence Scott Pickleball Complex…

King County's Parks Division issues permits for community groups and individuals to hold gatherings, meetings, or…

Groups or individuals who want exclusive or organized use of a Kirkland park must get a permit from the Parks and…

Lynnwood, Washington requires director permission to hold a scheduled event in a city park after dusk, and a permit…

Marysville Municipal Code § 6.82.090 requires a reservation for any community, special or private event that involves…

In the City of Olympia, Washington, parks and recreational facilities are open to any group on a first come, first…

Groups reserving Chetzemoka Park's kitchen shelters or bandstand for an event need a city reservation, capped at three…

Anyone wanting to use a Puyallup park facility, hold a religious service or rally, or run an activity for financial…

Community groups wanting to reserve a Sammamish park building or facility need a director-issued permit. SMC 7A.03.010…

Seattle Parks and Recreation requires permits for outdoor events in city parks including festivals, concerts, and…

To reserve a Shoreline park facility, athletic field, tennis court or community center for a nonroutine event, SMC §…

Community groups that want to hold an organized gathering, concession sale or fundraiser at a Skagit County park…

Reserving any part of a Spokane County park for exclusive use, from a picnic shelter to a full-day gathering, takes a…

Organized entertainment, demonstrations, or public gatherings in a Tacoma park need the Metro Parks Director's written…

Groups wanting to hold an event at a Yakima County park facility must reserve it in advance through the facility…

Bellevue requires written notice to the chief of police and city engineer, and a permit from the chief of police…

Chelan County requires a right-of-way activity permit for parades and other events on county roads under Chelan County…

Federal Way requires a right-of-way activity permit for any parade, run, march, rally or similar activity of 25 or more…

Any outdoor entertainment, amusement or assembly in unincorporated Island County expected to draw 100 or more people…

Kennewick requires a Class III permit before any parade, march or demonstration of 25 or more people may use a public…

Kent treats a parade as a regulated 'use' of public streets and sidewalks under KCC 6.07.020, and organizers apply…

Unincorporated King County bans any procession or parade on county roads unless the county first issues a special use…

Parades in Kirkland fall under the special event permit chapter, KMC 19.24. Anyone conducting or promoting a parade…

Anyone planning an event that may disrupt normal traffic on a Lakewood street, sidewalk, alley or public parking lot…

Any parade, motorcade, run, or public gathering expected to draw 150 or more people, tie up a public street, or need…

Conducting a parade or demonstration on any Port Townsend public right-of-way is unlawful without a permit from the…

Puyallup requires a special events permit for any parade, march, run, rally, fair or similar event that makes special…

In the City of Richland, Washington, holding a parade or street dance on any city street, alley, or sidewalk requires a…

Any parade, race, or procession on a Shoreline street or sidewalk needs a right-of-way use permit from Public Works and…

Anyone hosting an outdoor concert, festival or assembly expected to draw 100 or more people in unincorporated Skagit…

A parade, run, or similar event that closes part of a county road or right-of-way needs a Type A permit from the public…

In a Spokane County park, no one can hold a parade, show, festival, carnival or fundraiser without first securing a…

Parades and organized marches of 50+ people on Tacoma streets need a special event permit filed 60 days ahead (7 days…

Thurston County requires advance permission before holding a religious service or group rally in a county park. Section…

Holding a parade, staged sale, promotional event or neighborhood gathering that obstructs a sidewalk, path, curb…

Whatcom County requires a county permit before anyone hosts an outdoor musical entertainment, amusement or assembly…

Parades and other special events on Yakima streets or public property need a special event permit from the city's…

Anyone organizing a parade, march or similar public procession in Auburn needs a permit from the police chief, with the…

Anyone organizing a parade, athletic event, festival, rally or other special event in Bellingham that obstructs a…

In the City of Bothell, Washington, anyone who initiates, promotes or participates in a parade on city streets needs a…

Edmonds requires a permit from the police chief before anyone parades, demonstrates, or pickets on a public street, per…

Everett requires a special event permit for any parade or organized assembly of 25 or more people on a public…

Lynnwood, Washington treats a parade of more than 25 people or things as a special event under LMC 5.30.020(F), and LMC…

Any parade, march, run/walk or similar publicly attended event that uses Marysville's streets, sidewalks, or other…

In unincorporated Mason County, Washington, any parade, fun run, cycling event, or other private event that extends…

In the City of Olympia, Washington, a parade or other festival event on city property or city right-of-way needs a…

Pasco requires a special events permit for any parade on public or private roadways, sidewalks, parks or places…

Renton treats any organized march or procession as a special event requiring a permit under RMC 5-22, unless the parade…

Seattle SMC Title 15 requires a Special Event Permit from the Special Events Committee for parades, races, and…

Spokane Valley separately defines a "parade" as any march or procession that does not comply with adopted traffic…

A street fair, carnival, or festival on Auburn's public property or rights-of-way needs a special event permit under…

Anyone holding an outdoor music festival or concert in unincorporated Benton County, defined as a gathering expected to…

In the City of Bothell, Washington, anyone who holds a street fair, festival or similar gathering on public property…

A street fair, race, parade or similar organized activity that uses a Chelan County road needs a right-of-way activity…

Cowlitz County has no separate street-fair ordinance; outdoor gatherings of 1,000 or more people featuring live or…

Kennewick requires a Chapter 6.47 permit for street fairs, festivals, carnivals, and bazaars, limiting each site to two…

Fairs and festivals qualify as special events under Kirkland's code, and once a permit issues, only vendors authorized…

In the City of Lacey, Washington, a street fair, outdoor food court or market cannot open without planning approval…

Unincorporated Lewis County requires a music festival permit before anyone advertises or holds a gathering of 200 or…

In the City of Olympia, Washington, a festival event on city property or city right-of-way needs a Festival Event…

Only vendors the event organizer authorizes may sell goods, food, or beverages at a Tacoma street fair or festival, and…

Unincorporated Thurston County requires a county auditor license before anyone runs a circus, carnival, or public…

Any promoter running a Bellevue trade show, festival, fair, or similar event with 15 or more vendors must hold a…

In the City of Burien, Washington, a business operating at an approved nonprofit community festival needs no business…

During fee-based Edmonds special events like the Edmonds Art Festival and Taste of Edmonds, no mobile vending unit may…

Everett street fairs and festivals operate under the special event permit, and only vendors the permit holder…

Federal Way treats community festivals, fairs, and farmers markets as Class I temporary uses under FWRC 19.275.020…

Street fairs and festivals involving multiple vendors or users on Kent public places run under a single master use…

A circus, carnival, rodeo, fair or similar transient amusement activity in Lakewood, Washington needs a temporary use…

Lynnwood, Washington regulates fairs and festivals as "special events" under LMC 5.30.020(L), requiring a city permit…

Marysville treats any street fair, festival, or similar publicly attended gathering as a "special event" under…

Any street fair, festival or other outdoor event in unincorporated Mason County lasting more than four hours and…

Vendors at a Pasco street fair or festival fall under the City's temporary special sales event rules: the promoter must…

Festivals and street fairs need a temporary use permit under PTMC 17.60, and the police chief sets safety conditions…

Carnivals and fairs are listed special events under RMC 5-22, needing a permit filed 90 days out with a $50 fee…

In the City of Richland, Washington, vendors selling at a street fair, festival or other organized special event must…

A street fair, festival or other large gathering that uses a Shoreline street needs a right-of-way use permit under SMC…

Spokane County does not license street fairs on public roads by chapter and section, but it does directly regulate…

Spokane Valley classifies fairs, along with sales, auctions, and exhibitions on public property, as a "special event"…

Yakima requires a special event permit before any street fair or festival, and only vendors authorized under that…

Any gathering of 500 or more people in unincorporated Yakima County, from a street fair to a concert, needs a festival…

Lakewood, Washington's Park Code names commercial filming as an example of a "special event," so a film shoot in a city…

Because ACC 2.23.020(G) counts filming/movies among the activities defined as a special event, a commercial production…

Port Townsend caps parklets by district and allocates permits through an annual lottery, not first-come applications.

Bellingham defines a parklet as a platform built in a former curbside parking space with seating, and requires a…

Pasco lets an eligible food and beverage business convert one to three on-street parking spaces into a parklet under a…

Auburn requires a Type C right-of-way use permit before a restaurant or cafe can put tables and chairs on the sidewalk…

Sidewalk cafes in Everett cannot fence off public right-of-way space without a public works permit and joint review and…

Operating a sidewalk cafe on a public sidewalk in Kent requires a permit from the public works director, $1,000,000 in…

Restaurants that want to seat customers on a public Kirkland sidewalk need a street use permit under KMC…

Port Townsend requires an annual street use permit for sidewalk cafes, streateries, and parklets, with a lottery cap on…

SMC 15.16.010 bars anyone from operating a café in a Seattle public place without a Street Use permit from the Director…

A restaurant in unincorporated Walla Walla County that wants tables on a sidewalk, path, curb, gutter or planting strip…

A restaurant that wants to put cafe seating on a Bellevue public sidewalk needs a Type D long-term right-of-way use…

Bellingham requires a temporary right-of-way use permit from the Public Works Department before any business sets up a…

Outdoor dining furniture goes on a public sidewalk in the City of Bothell, Washington under a public area use permit…

A properly zoned and licensed Edmonds restaurant may extend seating onto the public sidewalk directly adjacent to its…

Lakewood, Washington restaurants and cafes may place tables, chairs, umbrellas and other outdoor dining furniture on a…

In the City of Olympia, Washington, a business needs a permit from the Director of Community Planning and Development…

Pasco restaurants, cafes and bars need a public space cafe permit to extend seating onto the sidewalk, and the sidewalk…

Restaurants and bars in Richland may seat customers in outdoor sidewalk cafes only under a Development Services…

A restaurant that wants tables on a Shoreline sidewalk needs a right-of-way site permit, not just a business license…

Tacoma requires a written Right-of-Way Occupancy Permit before operating a sidewalk cafe on a public sidewalk, but the…

In Thurston County's Village Center zoning district, restaurants may run outdoor cafes on sidewalks and in the public…

Operating a sidewalk cafe on a public right-of-way in Yakima requires a written permit from the code administration…

Federal Way lets restaurants and espresso carts run outdoor dining and refreshment areas in commercial and…