What You Need to Know About Hosting Street Activity Events
Community District 14 is host to at least 50 street activity events a year. These events that various organizations put together help make the Flatbush and Midwood communities more vibrant and enjoyable places to live. Below are some frequently asked questions about hosting these street activity events.
What is a Street Activity Event?
A street activity event is any activity to conduct an event when it may interfere with or obstruct the normal use by pedestrian or vehicular traffic of the street or sidewalk, such as:
- a block party
- street fair
- festival
- green market
- farmers market
- religious ceremony
- street cleanup or
- other recreation program.
A Street Activity Permit must be issued in order to conduct a street activity event. One can only be granted by the Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO) under the Mayor’s Citywide Events Coordination & Management (CECM) Office, after receiving a recommendation from the Community Board.
Who can obtain a Street Activity Permit?
Permits are issued to Sponsors, who are fully responsible for the conduct of the event.
A Sponsor can be a community-based, not-for-profit organization, association, or the like, which has a close relationship to the community and street where the event will be taking place. Examples of sponsors include block or community associations, religious or civic organizations, merchant associations, business improvement districts, and other not-for-profit corporations.
The Sponsor must demonstrate that it has the support of the community. Community Board 14 requires that the sponsor complete a petition with a majority of the property owners of that block consenting to the event.
How do I get a permit for an event?
Step 1: A representative of the Sponsor must contact the Community Board office, at least 90 days (12 weeks) before the event, with the following:
- proposed date and rain date
- duration of time
- location within Community District 14
- nature of the event
The District Office will work with the sponsor to ensure that the date, time, location and type of event are in accordance with Board and SAPO policies.
Step 2: Before the Community Board will recommend approval of a street activity permit, the sponsor must submit petitions signed by a majority of the residents living on the affected block agreeing to the conduct of the event. Sample petitions are available upon request at the District office.
Step 3: The sponsor’s representative must make an appointment with the District Office to complete the Street Activity Permit Application.
For a single block/single day street event, such as a block party or a health fair, the application must be completed at the Board office at least 60 days (8 weeks) before the planned date of the event. The Sponsor must also pay a non-refundable $15 certified check or money order made payable to “New York City Department of Finance”.
The only exception to these rules are for street clean-ups. Street clean-ups may last for up to four (4) hours on a single block. Applications for street clean-ups may be completed at the Board office at least 30 days (4 weeks) before the planned date of the clean-up. No application fee is charged for street clean-ups.
IMPORTANT: Failure to submit the application by these deadlines will result in an automatic denial of the permit by SAPO.
(You may also apply for your permit online at https://nyceventpermits.nyc.gov.)
Step 4: In addition to the Board’s recommendation, SAPO will review your permit for compliance with its policies and other applicable regulations. Once it is either approved, approved with certain conditions, or denied, SAPO will contact you. Furthermore, depending on the specific details of your event, you may need to apply for other permits with other City agencies. For instance, if you plan to have amplified sound, you must obtain an Amplified Sound Permit from the 70th Precinct. Details regarding any additional permits that you will need will be explained to you when you complete your application at the District Office.
What street events are taking place in Community District 14?
The District Office prepares and regularly updates a calendar of all permitted street activity events in the district. To obtain a copy, contact the District office.
What other permits/licenses might I have to obtain?
Examples of some additional permits/licenses you may require for your street activity event are:
Street Activity Vendor Information
Unlicensed Vendors must obtain Temporary Vendor Permits in order to sell at street events at the Department of Consumer Affairs, 42 Broadway, 5th Floor.
Food – To obtain a permit to sell food: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, 42 Broadway, 5th Floor, Phone – Call 311
Merchandise – To obtain a permit to sell merchandise: DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, 42 Broadway, 5th Floor, Phone-Call 311
Amplified Sound – To obtain a permit for Amplified Sound: Contact the Community Affairs Office of the 70th Precinct five days prior at (718) 851-5557.
Film Shooting – (SAPO does not issue film location permits.) To obtain a permit for Film Shooting: Mayor’s Office of Film, Theater, & Broadcasting, 1697 Broadway, 6th Floor, Phone – Call 311
Parades – (SAPO does not issue parade permits.) For information on parades, call: Parade information line – Call 311
NOTE: The sale, distribution and consumption of alcoholic beverages are prohibited at street events.