Organize an event on a street, sidewalk, or plaza

Avoid permitting delays, submit your permit application early and within these ranges
Approval wait times depend on the complexity of the event:
- Low complexity events (no road closures) can be processed in 2 to 3 weeks.
- Medium complexity events, where road closures or parking changes are required, will require 2 to 5 months of processing before the event date.
- Larger and route based events (parades, runs, and large festivals) will require 9 months of processing before the event date.

What you need to know

Our events team works to make sure that you and the surrounding community are set up for success. Our priority is to keep events safe, fun, and memorable.

Types of special events
Steps to getting a special event permit (Looking to hold your event only in a park? Review the steps to holding an event in a park)
Resources and contacts

What's happeningSpecial event permitting workshops

Are you an event organizer or you would like to host an event on City property? Attend one of our workshops and learn how the special event permitting process works, what kinds of financial supports exist, and what timelines and other items are required to process a permit.

Workshops in 2023

Thursday, August 24, 9am to noon
Thursday, October 19, 9am to noon
Thursday, December 7, 9am to noon

Types of special events

Low complexity event

No street closures
Event is at a neighbourhood plaza or plaza or public space
No liquor or food service (except prepackaged food)
No large structures such as tents or stages over 4 feet or more than 645 square feet
Roads closed already closed to vehicular traffic

Apply for a low complexity event permit

Medium complexity event

Closure of no more than 1 block of a road
May include liquor and/or food service
On-site food preparation and sales
Use of fire or propane
Large structures such as tents or stages over 4 feet or more than 645 square feet

Review steps and online tutorials and apply for a medium complexity event permit

High complexity event

Multiple road closures (more than 1 block or a route-based event)
May include large structures, stages, or tents
May include fire or propane

Review steps and online tutorials and apply for a high complexity event permit

Steps to getting a special event permit

Before you begin:

Read and review our Special Event Permitting Handbook (3.8 MB)
If your event will be contained entirely within a park, don't follow the steps below. Review the steps to holding an event in a park
If you event includes a street, sidewalk, or plaza PLUS a park. You only need to apply once. Please follow the steps below. ( Both the City and the Park Board application fees will still apply.)
Review our special event policy (110 KB)

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

A. Determine the type of event you will be having
- Will it be large or small?
- Are you having a block party?
- Will you be serving alcohol or food?
- Will you be selling anything?
- Is your event a charitable or non-profit event?
- Will your event be loud?
- Will it be across multiple days?
- Is it across multiple sites or routes (like a parade or run)?
- Is it on False Creek or navigable waterways?
- Will it have fireworks?
B. Determine where your event will be located
- Street, sidewalk, or other public property
- City property
- Public plaza or pop-up plaza
- A Vancouver park - The Vancouver Park Board has its own set of guidelines and fees. If your event includes a park, make sure you review the steps to holding an event in a park
- Private property but has a public impact
- 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.
- Vancouver Public Library - The plazas outside the main branch of the Vancouver Public library can be used for events, rallies, and public demonstrations.
- 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 handbook for special event permits
Before you apply, review the handbook.

Special Event Permitting Handbook (3.8 MB)

What you will find in the handbook
- Information on how to apply
- Approval timelines
- Potential costs
- Rules or restrictions (Dates or types of activities)
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
  Certain public events, particularly events with unrestricted free public access and are non-commercial in nature, may qualify to have a portion of City operational service costs shared with us as part of our FestShare program. These may include costs related to sanitation, traffic control, and public safety.
  
  A maximum of 75% of certain costs, up to $75,000, may be available to qualified events. Once your application is received, we will advise you if the event qualifies for FestShare.
Step 4: Gather information and documents required to apply
A. Determine if you need permits

Food, alcohol, or cannabis

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 or cannabis at your event, you will be required to have a permit from the BC Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch
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)

Halloween fireworks require a permit to possess or discharge, and can only be discharged on private property. The fireworks permit is available only in late October and is issued by Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services.

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.

Application type Fee

Events $100

Park events $30

Tax does not apply to application fees.

If streets, sidewalks, or plazas PLUS a park is in your event plan, both application fees will be applied

B. Review if you need to pay a deposit

You will be required to provide a deposit if your event requires:
- Temporary parking
- Police assistance [Review VPD fees (272 KB)]
- Other Engineering services
This deposit must be provided at least 4 weeks before the event.

Most costs associated with your event will be charged to your deposit. However, other permits may be required and services needed (like ambulance and transit). These fees are payable to each individual organization or branch.

We will work with internal service providers to provide an estimate of expected or known costs.

Charges may exceed the estimate if:
- Documents used for estimating are submitted late
- Event plans are changed after initial estimates are provided
- An event runs late
- Equipment is lost or stolen
- There are safety concerns that require additional equipment or personnel
Organizers of unapproved events or of events that exceed the permit conditions will be billed for any City costs (like police and engineering) incurred as a result.
Step 6: Apply for a permit and permit reviewed by staff
A. Gather documents and submit application
1. Register for an online account (if you don't have an account)
2. Submit your application
3. Pay fees
B. Apply
- Low complexity event: Apply for a low complexity event permit
- Medium or high complexity event: Review online tutorials and apply for a medium or high complexity event permit
City staff will contact you within one week to discuss you application.

Application type	Fee
Events	$100
Park events	$30

Resources and contacts

Did you find what you're looking for?

Organize an event on a street, sidewalk, or plaza

Avoid permitting delays, submit your permit application early and within these ranges

What you need to know

What's happeningSpecial event permitting workshops

Workshops in 2023

Types of special events

Low complexity event

Medium complexity event

High complexity event

Steps to getting a special event permit

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

Step 2: Review handbook for special event permits

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

Resources and contacts

Documents

Single-use items by-laws

City contacts

Partner contacts

Did you find what you're looking for?

Contact information, partner agencies, and website policies