Person on stage in front of an audience in a park

Organize an event in a park

Apply to have your next event in a park. Have a fun, safe, memorable event in a park.

We have over 230 parks in Vancouver, ten oceanside beaches, and one freshwater lake beach. Find a park in Vancouver

Looking to hold your event on a street, sidewalk, or plaza? Review the steps

Application review timeline varies from two to 12 months depending on the complexity of the proposed event. Late applications may not be processed or approved.

All fees and projected costs must be paid prior to your event unless other arrangements have been agreed upon
Sites are not reserved until payment has been received

We do not issue permits for sports practice.

Steps to getting a special event permit

Step 1: Determine the type of event and where and when it will occur
Do not advertise or promote your event until you get conditional approval from the Special Event Office.

A. Determine the type of event you will be having
- What is the size of your event?
- Are you having a wedding in a park?
- Will you be serving alcohol or food?
- Will you be selling anything?
- Is your event a charitable or non-profit event?
- Will you have amplified sound?
- Will it be across multiple days?
- Is it across multiple sites or routes (like a parade or run)?
- Will it have pyrotechnics?
B. Determine where your event will be located
- Park
- Park facility (such as a community centre, swimming pool, ice rink)
- Field, court, or diamond
- Golf course or pitch and putt
- Multi-site or route events (like parades or runs)
- Navigable waterways - Navigable waterways are any waterways on which motorized and non-motorized watercraft can operate. This generally refers to salt water areas including False Creek, English Bay, and the Vancouver Harbour
Outside of parks:
- City street, sidewalk, or plaza only
- Vancouver Public Library - The plazas outside the main branch of the Vancouver Public library can be used for events, rallies, and public demonstrations.
- Vancouver Art Gallery - The Georgia Street Plaza and the Robson Street Plaza are available for rallies and public demonstrations. Contact the venue rental coordinator at 604-662-4714 for more information about events in and around the Vancouver Art Gallery .
- Port of Vancouver (Vancouver Fraser Port Authority) - Vancouver Fraser Port Authority has jurisdiction over the Port of Vancouver. Contact the Operations Centre . Their responsibilities include marine patrols, ship inspections, event planning, permitting of dangerous goods, and the provision of navigational and safety advice.
C. Determine if your event will be requiring waste and recycling service and equipment or bike racks, water fountains, and water wagons for rent

Make your event more sustainable with our Green Events Planning Guide. You are responsible for leaving the event area clean and litter-free. Tell us how you will manage waste at your event. Will you hire the City, a business, or do it yourself? Learn more about greening your event and fill out a green event form

If you do not leave the area clean and litter-free, you will be charged for City services to clean the area.
Step 2: Review the rules to creating an event
Rules to having an event in a park
- You must carry your permit and present it upon request
- Permits will be revoked without payment of any compensation in the event of a breach of any laws, by-laws, or conditions set up herein or in force (Non-compliance may also result in additional charges.)
What is prohibited in a park

All of the following are prohibited in parks, unless your permit specifically allows them:
- The sale of goods
- The collection of an admission fee
- The operation of a concession
- The operation of a public address system
- The operation of amplified music
- The dispensing, sale/purchase, or consumption of alcohol or cannabis at any time (per Sections 42 and 43 of the Liquor Control and Licensing Act.)
- The installation of electricity
- The use of fire or fireworks
- The erection of structures, fences, poles, tents, stages, bleachers, and portable toilets
- Signage, banners, or advertisements
- Vehicles being driven onto grassed areas, restricted access, or service roads at any time (Non-permitted vehicles may be towed.)
- Service of food is subject to by-law requirements of the City Health Department
What requires Park Board approval and a permit to take place in a park

Events and activities
- Runs, walks, and sporting events
- Celebrations
- Festivals, concerts, and corporate events
- Picnics (designated or non-designated locations)
- Weddings (designated or non-designated locations)
Commercial activities
- Vendor markets
- Private recreation/fitness classes
- Filming, film parking, and photography
- Sponsorship activations
- Experiential marketing activations
- Drone operations
- Artist and busking
Food and beverage services
- Mobile food operations (food trucks, hawkers, etc.)
- Use of adjacent spaces by restaurants in parks
- Temporary expanded patio/service areas
Other
- Movement of equipment and/or materials across park spaces where exclusive use is required or there is potential risk to persons or property
- Use of equipment and/or materials on park spaces for commercial purposes (power washing of adjacent buildings, erection of scaffolding, etc.)
- Various other activities (spiritual release of live fish, cultural fire ceremonies, etc.)
Rules about noise

All events must comply with the Noise Control By-law. The by-law limits how much sound can come from any source at the event itself, and during set-up or take-down and helps ensure that the general public and the surrounding areas are not adversely affected.

If you are having amplified sound (speeches, music or singing, or other live performances), our office will check to ensure that you can control noise levels caused by your event. While some exceptions can be made for special circumstances, we require you:
- Limit your set-up and take-down to between 7am and 8pm (10am and 8pm on Sundays)
- Include information about amplified sound equipment on your site drawing
- Ensure your sound technician can monitor sound levels from any amplification equipment with a sound level meter and adjust sound levels as necessary
If you are not having amplified sound, our office will check to ensure that you can control noise levels caused by your event. While some exceptions can be made for special circumstances, our office suggests that you limit your set-up and takedown to between 7am and 8pm (10am and 8pm on Sundays).

Single-use item by-laws

All vendors at your event will be required to comply with our single-use item by-laws (restrictions on shopping bags, utensils, straws, and foam cup/containers). Request a toolkit with a by-law guide, FAQS, posters, and more.

Learn more about "contactless cup" procedures allowed by Vancouver Coastal Health.

Questions about the single-use item by-laws? Email: ReduceSingleUse@vancouver.ca
Step 3 Review what resources are available to help create your event
If you are planning an event in Vancouver, you may qualify for grants or subsidies to off-set the costs of running an event. The following grants and subsidies are currently available:
- Arts, culture and community arts grants
  We award over $11 million to non-profit arts, cultural organizations, and artists through a variety of arts, culture, and community arts grants.
- Promoting your arts, culture, and community activity
  We offer multiple ways of promoting your arts, culture, and community activities.
- Cost reductions for free public events
  Parks events are excluded from this program
  We may offer financial relief of up to $2,000 to eligible non-profit organizations to reduce certain eligible City services costs incurred during a special event. You must go through the standard application process and meet with the Festival Expediting Staff Team (FEST) Committee to qualify for the offset.
- Non-profit and not for profit organizations
  If you are a non-profit or not for profit organization, you can receive discounted event fees for events in a park.
Step 4: Gather information and documents required to apply
A. Determine if you need permits

Food or alcohol

If you want to sell or serve:
- Food at your event, you will be required to get a temporary food permit from Vancouver Coastal Health .
- Alcohol at your event, you will be required to have a permit from the BC Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch
Cannabis is not permitted in parks.

Vancouver Coastal Health has requirements for washrooms, water service and garbage disposal related to operating a temporary food booth or alcohol service location.

Building and development permits

Building permits are required for a variety of structures; examples include:
- Bleachers (grandstands) higher than 2m (6 feet)
- Gantries higher than 2m and/or over a roadway
- Stages higher than 1.2m (4 feet) or larger than 40m² (430 f²)
- Tents larger than 60m2 (645 ft²) or closer than 3m (9’-10”) apart, totalling more than 60m² (645 ft²) in area
Development permit may be required for large, complex events or events of a longer duration.

Fireworks (pyrotechnics)

Display fireworks (public fireworks) and pyrotechnic special effects (sporting or other public events) are regulated by the federal government and must be:
- Approved by Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services before the event
- Installed and discharged by a pyrotechnic special effects technician certified by Natural Resources Canada. Your pyrotechnic special effects technician or special effects company can help you with this process
Marine event

All organized activities on the water require a marine event permit from the Port of Vancouver. Contact the Operations Centre . There is no charge for a marine event permit.

B. Determine if you need insurance

The minimum insurance requirements for events or activities on City and Park Board property or for use of any City or Park Board facilities is a minimum coverage limit of $2,000,000 Commercial General Liability insurance against third party claims for bodily injury, death, property, and loss of use.

C. Develop plans

If your event will be large, you may need a:
- Traffic management plan
- Transportation plan
- Neighbourhood impact plan
- Safety plan
Traffic management plan (TMP)

Any special event that is on city streets needs to meet traffic control standards. These standards are:
- Set by the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and the BC Motor Vehicle Act
- Monitored by us
- Enforced by WorkSafe BC
We review traffic control plans and traffic management plans. WorkSafeBC may require additional traffic control documentation for construction or special events.

Find out more about traffic management plans

Transportation plan

Transportation plans are often added into a traffic management plan as an appendix but can be a stand-alone document if your event does not have a transportation management plan (TMP).

You will need to describe:
- Your plans for moving people to and from your event.
- Any extra pressure you anticipate on the transportation system (Translink, SkyTrain, roadways, etc.), and how you plan to handle it
Neighbourhood impact plan

Neighbourhood impact plans describe the steps you must take to minimize the impact on the area around your event.

You will need to describe the steps you have taken to minimize the impact on the neighbourhood surrounding your event. One of those steps must be to notify residents and/or merchants affected by your event.

Safety plan

Safety plans describe your:
- Risk assessment process
- Mitigation strategies in planning and your strategy
- Contacts
- Steps to respond to isolated incidents (for example, lost child or injured attendee) and large emergencies (for example, event stop or evacuation)
The plan should include:
- On the first page, a key event organizer contact list
- Your steps in communication internally and externally (as needed) as you handle an incident or emergencies at your event
City staff may require more information depending upon the complexity of the event and impact to regional/civic emergency services. You are responsible for providing information to the satisfaction of City staff.

Step 5: Review fees and deposits

A. Review application fees

If you have an event on city streets, sidewalks, public property, you must have permits for the events and pay a non-refundable application fee.

Event application fee : $38

Application fee is taxable (not shown in fee).

B. Review permit fees by type of event (2024)

Permit fees are taxable (not shown in fees).

Community and charity based events

Neighbourhood parks

Guests	Event level	Fee
1-50	1	$118
51-300	2	$295
301-500	3	$443
501-1,000	4	$738
1,001-5,000	5	$1,180
5,001-10,000	6	$1,475
>10,000	7	Negotiable

Speciality parks: Downtown, Waterfront, and Queen Elizabeth

Guests	Event level	Fee
1-50	1	$136
51-300	2	$340
301-500	3	$510
501-1,000	4	$850
1,001-5,000	5	$1,360
5,001-10,000	6	$1,700
>10,000	7	Negotiable

Premium parks: Stanley Park

Guests	Event level	Fee
1-50	1	$156
51-300	2	$390
301-500	3	$585
501-1,000	4	$975
1,001-5,000	5	$1,560
5,001-10,000	6	$1,950
>10,000	7	Negotiable

City-wide events: festivals, concerts, and sports

Neighbourhood parks

Guests	Event level	Fee
1-50	1	$293
51-300	2	$440
301-500	3	$733
501-1,000	4	$1,172
1,001-5,000	5	$1,465
5,001-10,000	6	$2,637
>10,000	7	Negotiable

Speciality parks: Downtown, Waterfront, and Queen Elizabeth

Guests	Event level	Fee
1-50	1	$337
51-300	2	$506
301-500	3	$843
501-1,000	4	$1,348
1,001-5,000	5	$1,685
5,001-10,000	6	$3,033
>10,000	7	Negotiable

Premium parks: Stanley Park

Guests	Event level	Fee
1-50	1	$388
51-300	2	$582
301-500	3	$970
501-1,000	4	$1,552
1,001-5,000	5	$1,940
5,001-10,000	6	$3,492
>10,000	7	Negotiable

Private and commercial events

Fees negotiable

C. Review additional event charges

Event charge	Fee
Alcohol permits	$750
Staff fee for site visitation	$125
Staff fee for monitoring, per hour	$97
Setup and take down fee, per day	50% of the applicable daily special event or filming fee
Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) fee	$230
Vendors market (per season, per location)	Non-profit: $1,519 Commercial: Negotiable

Event charges are taxable (not shown in fees).

D. Review if you need to pay a deposit

You will be required to provide a deposit if your event requires:

Park event damage deposit: Negotiable

Organizers of unapproved events or of events that exceed the permit conditions will be billed for any costs incurred as a result.

No refunds will be issued for cancellations made less than 30 calendar days before the reservation date.

Refunds will not be provided for bad weather. The $38 application fee is non-refundable.

Step 6: Apply for a permit and permit reviewed by staff
Special events staff review and evaluate applications against the following criteria:
- Compatibility with the Park Board's mandate
- Suitability of a site to accommodate the event
- Feedback from stakeholders and staff
A. Gather documents
- Site plan/or route map
- Budget
- Green events form
- Charitable number (if applicable) (All registered Canadian charities receive a charitable registration number)
B. Fill out and submit application and required forms

Application form (919 KB)

C. Submit application form

Email complete application to parkevents@vancouver.ca

D. Staff review your application

Wait for feedback from special events staff. Currently we need 4 months lead time for new special events. The more your event impacts the community, the more time the special events office requires to consult with stakeholders and staff.
E. Receive feedback from events staff and provide additional documents and fees
- Once you receive conditional approval, we'll need your:
  - Liability insurance
  - Event budget
  - Detailed schedule of event activities
  - Green events waste management form
  - Payment of applicable fees

Contacts and resources

Parks Special Event Office

2099 Beach Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6G 1Z4
Email: parkevents@vancouver.ca
Phone: 604-257-8516

City contacts

Partner contacts

Did you find what you're looking for?

Organize an event in a park

Steps to getting a special event permit

Step 1: Determine the type of event and where and when it will occur

Step 2: Review the rules to creating an event

Step 3 Review what resources are available to help create your event

Step 4: Gather information and documents required to apply

Step 5: Review fees and deposits

Step 6: Apply for a permit and permit reviewed by staff

Contacts and resources

Parks Special Event Office

City contacts

Partner contacts

Did you find what you're looking for?

Contact information, partner agencies, and website policies