What are the requirements to hold an event in a City park?
The requirements to conduct an event in a City of Houston park vary based on the type and scope of the event.
Our standard special event requisite sheet provides basic guidelines to event requirements. Our event coordinators are here to help determine the requisites specific to your event and guide you through the process. If you have any initial questions, please call 713.437.6367.
To apply for permission to hold a special event in a park or public space, please send a letter of request to Ms. Susan Christian, Deputy Director, Mayor's Office of Special Events. This letter may be submitted via fax (713.247.3001), e-mail (susan.christian@cityofhouston.net), or U.S. Postal mail (901 Bagby, 4th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002). Please include in your letter a description of the event, the dates and times of the event (including set-up and tear-down), the park that you are requesting, the general purpose of the event, the type of entertainment (if any) you will have, the estimated attendance, and any other pertinent information relating to your proposed event.
What are the fees for holding a special event in a park?
The park user fees and required grounds deposit for an event vary depending on the size, scope, the event components and the park requested. Please note that you are required to provide a general liability insurance certificate, which names the City of Houston as an additional insured and includes a waiver of subrogation, covering your event. Your insurance agent can assist you with obtaining a certificate.
What parks are available for rentals?
The majority of the City of Houston parks are available for rentals for a special event. However, the scope of the event will determine whether a particular park is appropriate for your event.
What are the requirements to hold an event on a City street (i.e., festival, block party, fun run / walk, parade, etc.)?
As with events in City parks, the requirements to conduct an event in a City street vary based on the type and scope of the event. Our standard special event requisite sheet provides basic guidelines to event requirements. The event coordinator assigned to your event will guide you through the process.
The City of Houston Code of Ordinances is also a guide for information regarding a street function or parade.
What is considered a parade? How do I apply for a parade permit?
A parade is defined as a procession of pedestrians, vehicles, or animals, or any combination thereof, traveling in unison along or upon a street, road, or highway, organized and conducted for the purposes of attracting the attention of the general public and / or expressing or celebrating views or ideas by use of verbal, visual, literary, or auditory means of communication. A parade shall not mean a procession of vehicles operated in compliance with ordinary traffic laws or a procession of pedestrians along or upon public sidewalks or private property.
To apply for a parade permit, please complete a Parade Permit Application. The application must be notarized, include a map with the proposed parade route and include a non-refundable $250.00 parade permit application fee in the form of a cashier's check or money order made payable to the City of Houston.
You may wish to conduct a parade not requiring a permit, such as a neighborhood parade. This type of event is allowed, based on the following information:
- The parade does not contain more than 250 individuals nor more than 12 vehicles or animals;
- The parade does not contain any number of animals or vehicles that are not licensed to travel on public streets;
- The parade shall not exceed one mile in length, contains no portion of a major thoroughfare or major collector street and contains no streets located within the downtown area;
- The parade shall take no longer than one hour to complete; and,
- The parade event organizers shall provide the necessary traffic control.
In order to hold a parade not requiring a permit, please submit a Neighborhood Parade Notification Form and route map to Ms. Susan Christian, Deputy Director, Mayor's Office of Special Events, no later than three (3) business days prior to your event.
What is a street function? How do I apply for a street function permit?
A street function is defined as using a public street or portion thereof for the purpose of conducting or holding a street dance, block party, fun run or other pedestrian or wheelchair race, bicycle race, festival, or other function requiring the closing of the street or a portion thereof to normal vehicular traffic.
To apply for a street function permit, please complete a Street Function Application. The application must also be notarized and submitted with a site or route map detailing the set-up of your event and the proposed street closure locations. There is a non-refundable $50.00 application fee for a street function permit, which must also be in the form of a cashier's check or money order made payable to the City of Houston.
Costs for traffic control devices (cones, barricades, etc.) and security control (certified peace officers) are the responsibility of the event producer, and are not included in the application fee. These costs may vary depending on the nature of the event and complexity of the traffic control plan. City resources are limited, and most applicants are required to contract services for traffic and security control. We are happy to supply you with the contact information for companies who provide traffic control services.
How far in advance do I need to apply for a permit?
The sooner you submit an application, the better. All permit applications are accepted on a first come, first serve basis. You can apply for a permit no earlier than 365 days prior to the requested date; however, there are specific filing deadlines for permits.
- Parades – 10 business days prior to the event.
- Parades not requiring a permit (i.e., neighborhood parades) – 3 business days prior to the event.
- Parades requiring a Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Right-of-Way or Freeway Ramp Closure(s) – 90 days prior to the event.
- Minor Street Functions (in downtown or not involving a major thoroughfare) – 40 business days prior to the event.
- Minor Street Functions with a TxDOT closure(s) – 90 business days prior to the event.
- Major Street Functions (outside of downtown) – 120 business days prior to the event.
- Special Events Park Permit – at least 30 days prior to the event.
Can I apply for my permit online?
Unfortunately, at this time, you cannot apply for a special events permit online. For a special event permit in a City of Houston park, you must submit a letter of request to the Deputy Director of the Mayor's Office of Special Events.
Applications for parade and street function permits are available on the MOSE website at www.houstontx.gov/specialevents/functions.html. These may be submitted electronically, but are not considered complete until the original, notarized form is received, along with the appropriate application fees and supporting documents as required by the City of Houston Code of Ordinances.
What is the difference between a major and minor street function?
A major street function is defined as any function that will involve the closure of any portion of a major thoroughfare or major collector street, except:
a. A function in the nature of a race or fun run in which the participants follow prescribed routes and is conducted in such a manner that the streets may be closed and opened on a rolling basis as the participants pass; or
b. A function conducted within the Central Business District, including that portion of Allen Parkway between Bagby Street and Shepherd Drive, and Memorial Drive between Bagby Street and Waugh Drive, provided that the function will not cause the closure of any street during the hours of 7:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. on any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or holiday observed by the closure of City offices.
A minor street function means any function that does not require the closure of any portion of a major thoroughfare or collector street.
How do I become a vendor at an event?
Not all events solicit for vendors. Each event producer selects the vendors for their respective event. If you wish to become a vendor at an event, please contact the producer directly.
Do I need a sound permit for my event?
Yes. If you plan to use amplified sound during your event, you must obtain a sound permit. If your event is being permitted through the Mayor's Office of Special Events, we will provide you an authorization form to obtain a sound permit. The cost is $10.00 per day, for no more than 3 consecutive days. Amplified sound is allowed between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., and may not exceed 75 db.'s with the permit. For events on private property, the property owner will provide the authorization.
When do I need a health permit?
A temporary health permit is required if you are distributing (selling or giving away) any food and / or drink items. The fee for a temporary health permit is $60.00 per booth per day. An authorization form will be provided from the Mayor's Office of Special Events. Visit the City of Houston Health and Human Services website for more information.
Additionally, if you are using propane during your event for cooking or any other purpose, the Houston Fire Department requires a propane use permit. See information regarding propane permits below.
Can I use propane at my events?
Propane use permits are issued by the Houston Fire Department. The fee for this permit is $250.00 and does not include the standby fees for on-site inspectors required during the operation of your event. Rates per inspector for standby fees are $280.00 for the first four (4) hours and $62.50 per hour for each additional hour. There will be is a $5.00 administration fee for both the permit and the standby application. The number of inspectors required is based on the complexity of the event. Please call 713.865.7132 for further information.
Do I need an occupancy permit for my tent?
If the total square footage of any tent is more than 1,200 square feet, then yes, you will need an occupancy permit. Please contact the Houston Fire Department at 713.865.7132 for further information.
Do I need to provide medical services for my event?
Yes. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT's) or other certified medical personnel are acceptable. You must provide the name and contact information for the emergency medical services coordinator to your event coordinator.
Can I have fireworks at my event?
If fireworks are a part of your event, you must secure the necessary permits from the Houston Fire Department. Please note that there are additional fees and specific deadlines associated with these permits. Please call 713.865.7132 for further information.
Do I need to provide police officers for my event?
Yes. Certified peace officers must be hired by the event producer for crowd and traffic control, based on the scope of the event and the projected attendance. If your event requires a street closure, certified peace officers must be located at each street closing for the duration of your event, including
load-in and load-out. You will be required to provide a security plan detailing
the deployment of officers for both crowd and traffic control. This document must be approved by the Houston Police Department Special Operations Division. Your event coordinator will have more information.
What permits will I need to load-in and / or load-out for my event?
If you plan to utilize a curblane for event loading and / or unloading,
a permit is required, and there is a fee associated with the permit. To obtain a curblane permit, please complete the Right-of-Way Permit Application, and return it to the Public Works and Engineering, Traffic and Transportation Division as indicated on the form. Questions about a obtaining a curblane permit should be directed to 713.837.6272.
In addition, if the curblane includes meter bagging, a meter bagging permit is required. Please complete the meter bagging application and return it to the Parking Management Department as indicated on the form. Questions about meter bagging should be directed to 713.853.8291.
Can I serve alcohol at my event?
If you plan to sell or distribute alcohol at your event, you must first receive an authorization to obtain a permit from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC). The majority of City of Houston parks are alcohol-free. For the parks where alcohol can be sold or distributed, a special authorization letter will be provided by the Mayor's Office of Special Events. Sale of alcoholic beverages is not allowed in neighborhood parks.
Do I need to provide portable toilets?
Under most event circumstances, yes, you must provide portable toilets for your guests. Our policy states that one (1) portable toilet per 300 people is acceptable, and 10% of all portable toilets must be ADA handicapped accessible.
How do I become a City of Houston vendor?
Please visit the City of Houston Finance and Administration website for information on becoming a City of Houston vendor.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER PRIOR TO PLANNING YOUR EVENT
- Does the event require street closures?
- How does the event affect our public transportation system with regard to bus, rail, trolley, freeway and airport access? Will alternate routes be available to accommodate the thousands of people who use these systems daily? If so, what are those routes?
- Are you planning to serve alcohol at the event? How will the use of alcohol affect the tenor, participant safety and enjoyment of the event as well as security and insurance costs? What are your plans to keep others from bringing in alcoholic beverages and to keep patrons from taking alcoholic beverages out of the event site? Keep in mind that some venues do not allow the sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages.
- What type of music will be featured at the event? How will the noise impact the surrounding neighborhood? What type of audience behaviors and crowd numbers may result from the genre of music booked? Please note that you are required to obtain a sound permit if any amplified sound is to be used at your event, and there are specific times that amplified sound is allowed.
- Contact the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities if you would like information or suggestions about how to make your event accessible for people with disabilities.
- Is parking readily available?
- What other events are planned throughout the city on the chosen date of your event? Will they reduce attendance at your event or inhibit the ability of the City to provide necessary staffing?
- What other local, state and federal agencies may require additional permitting?