Contacts and resources
Arts, culture and community arts grants
Every year, the City of Vancouver, through the Arts, Culture and Community Services division, Vancouver Civic Theatres, and Vancouver Park Board award over $11 million to non-profit arts, cultural organizations and artists through a variety of grant programs.
Learn more and see if your activity is eligible to apply for a grant.
Development Services
Development Services, a branch of the Community Services Group, issues building permits and development permits.
For more information
Development and Building Services Centre
515 West 10th Avenue
(10th and Yukon)
Phone: 604-873-7611
Hours
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 8:30am to 4:30pm
Thursday, Friday: 8:30am to 4:00pm
City of Vancouver Special Event Office
450 SW Marine Drive
Vancouver BC V5X 0C3
Phone: 604-257-8850
Festival Expediting Staff Team (FEST committee)
The FEST committee meets with a Special Event Coordinator, if necessary, to discuss an event application after the Coordinator has reviewed the application.
The FEST committee is made up of representatives from the Police, Park Board, Fire, BC Transit and any other civic departments or government bodies that may need to be consulted about events.
BC Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch
The BC Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch regulates liquor service in bars, restaurants, liquor stores, and special events.
Learn more about Liquor Special Event Permits 
More information can be found in the BC Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch Special Event Permits – Terms and Conditions Handbook
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
The Ministry of PublicSafety and Solicitor General (PSSG) regulates liquor licenses, gambling, and related matters, in BC.
By phone
Vancouver: 604-660-2421
Elsewhere in B.C.: 1-800-663-7867
Telephone Device for the Deaf (TDD)
Vancouver: 604-775-0303
Elsewhere in B.C.: 1-800-661-8773
Natural Resources Canada
Natural Resources Canada (NRC) regulates pyrotechnics (fireworks) and explosives, as well as regulating pyrotechnics technicians.
For more information, view their site at http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/minerals-metals/explosives/3818
Contact them through the NRC website at http://contact-contactez.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/index.cfm?lang=eng&sid=4
Navigation Protection Act
The Navigation Protection Act is designed to ensure public access to, and efficient use of, our waterways.
The Act is administered by the Navigation Protection Program (NPP) of Transport Canada.
For more information
To contact the NPP:
Pacific Region
Regional Manager
Navigation Protection Program
Transport Canada
Pacific Regional Office
820-800 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC
V6Z 2J8
Phone: 604-775-8867
Fax: 604-775-8828
Email: NPPPAC-PPNPAC@tc.gc.ca
Noise Control Bylaw
The Noise Control Bylaw regulates noise or sound within the City of Vancouver.
The bylaw applies to events in terms of:
- Noise, outside of permitted hours, from setting up the event, including putting up tents, stages, or bleachers or testing sound equipment
- Excess noise from the event itself
- Noise, outside of permitted hours, from taking down the event, including taking down tents, stages, or bleachers
Office of Boating Safety
The Office of Boating Safety issues permits to hold special events, such as a race or regatta, in False Creek.
For more information
Pacific Region (British Columbia)
700-800 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC
V6Z 2J8
Telephone: (604) 666-2681
Email: TC.PAC.TM.OBS-BSN.TC@tc.gc.ca
Office of Cultural Affairs
The Office of Cultural Affairs issues grants for arts and culture-related events.
For more information
By phone
3-1-1 (in Vancouver)
604-871-6434 (outside of Vancouver)
7-1-1 (TTY service)
By email
In person
Suite 501
111 West Hastings Street
(Woodward's Heritage Building)
Vancouver, BC
Port of Vancouver (Vancouver Fraser Port Authority)
Vancouver Fraser Port Authority has jurisdiction over the Port of Vancouver. Their responsibilities include marine patrols, ship inspections, event planning, permitting of dangerous goods and the provision of navigational and safety advice.
For more information
Phone: 604-665-9086
SkyTrain
SkyTrain is the rapid transit system in the Vancouver Metro area. It consists of three inter-connected routes - the Expo line, the Millenium line, and the Canada Line. SkyTrain is part of the TransLink mass transit system.
For more information
For more information related to event planning or event usage, contact the TransLink Corporate Offices
In person
1600 - 4720 Kingsway
Burnaby, BC
By phone
604-453-4500
TransLink
TransLink is the mass transit system in the Vancouver Metro area. It consists of the Coast Mountain Bus Company, British Columbia Rapid Transit Company Ltd. (SkyTrain) and West Coast Express Ltd.
For more information
For more information related to event planning or event usage, contact the TransLink Corporate Offices
In person
1600 - 4720 Kingsway
Burnaby, BC
By phone
604-453-4500
Vancouver Art Gallery
The Georgia Street Plaza and the Robson Street Plaza are available for rallies and public demonstrations. You are encouraged to call about availability and permission before you apply.
If you will be having amplified sound, Vancouver Coastal Health and the Vancouver Art Gallery will review your Neighbourhood Impact Plan to ensure that you can control noise levels caused by your event. When preparing your plan, keep in mind that the Vancouver Art Gallery and the surrounding areas are sensitive to noise.
While some exceptions can be made for special circumstances, Vancouver Coastal Health and the Vancouver Art Gallery require that you:
- Limit your set-up and takedown to between 7am and 8pm (10am and 8pm on Sundays)
- Include information about amplified sound equipment on your site drawing
- Ensure any amplified sound or other noise from your event does not continue beyond 10pm
- Ensure your sound technician can monitor sound levels from any amplification equipment with a sound level meter and adjust sound levels as necessary
As well, posters or other material may not be attached to the Vancouver Art Gallery building.
For more information about events in and around the Vancouver Art Gallery, please contact the venue rental coordinator at 604-662-4714.
Vancouver Coastal Health
Vancouver Coastal Health regulates food service at events, including issuing permits for temporary food booths.
For more information
- Temporary Event Coordinators Planning Guide
- Temporary Food Services Application
- Temporary Event Coordinator Application
Specific questions about food service can be directed to:
Shelley Beaudet, Vancouver Coastal Health
By phone: 604-675-3807
By email: temporaryevents@vch.ca
Vancouver Park Board's Special Events Office
If you wish to hold your event in a park, be aware that the timelines, processes, forms, and fees may be different than for event held in Vancouver outside of a park.
For more information, contact the Park Board's Special Event Office.
2099 Beach Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6G 1Z4
Phone 3-1-1 or 7-1-1 (TTY)
Email parkevents@vancouver.ca
Fax to 604-257-8501
Vancouver Police Department's Operational Planning Unit
The Operational Planning Unit provides services to special event organizers in the community by assisting in planning, security, staffing deployment, and traffic control for special events.
For more information, call the police non-emergency line at 604-717-3321.
Vancouver Police Department's Traffic Authority Program
The Vancouver Police Traffic Authority Program assists the Vancouver Police Department with traffic and pedestrian control functions at special events in the City of Vancouver. The Vancouver Traffic Authority is co-ordinated by the Emergency and Operational Planning Section.
For more information, call the police non-emergency line at 604-717-3321.
Vancouver Public Library
The plazas outside the main branch of the Vancouver Public library can be used for events, rallies and public demonstrations. You are encouraged to call about availability and permission before you apply.
For more information about events at the Vancouver Public Library, please contact Polly Argo at 604-331-4045.
Ready to apply for your special event?
Ready to apply? If you are ready to apply for your special event permit, click the link below to go directly to the online application.
Is your event in a park? If your event is in a park, you will also need to fill out the Park Board's application.
