Permitting Process

Yes, if your event closes or uses a City of Seattle street, sidewalk, alleyway, public parking, or another right-of-way, you need a Special Event Permit.

However, you do not need a Special Event Permit if all of the following apply: 

• Closure is one block only and does not include an intersection closure AND

• Closure is of a non-arterial street AND

• Event attendance will be less than 300 people at any given time AND

• Event does not need Police, Fire, or other City resources AND

• There is no alcohol service or consumption on public property AND

• Event takes place in daylight hours only AND

• Event has minimal setup in the street (objects must be quickly movable by one person)  

If your event plan meets all of the above criteria, then you may qualify for a People Streets or a Street and Sidewalk Vending permit instead.

Check to see if your street is non-arterial by using SDOT’s Street Type map. 

Yes, you need a Special Event Permit if ANY of these apply:

• You are selling alcohol (at a beer garden, bar, etc.)
• You need Police services for safety/security or for traffic control
• Event includes public street or sidewalk use
• Event will have a substantial impact on the park or surrounding neighborhood
• Event will have off-hours outdoor amplified sound (10:00pm-9:00am on weekends or 10:00pm-7:00am on weekdays) 
• Event will require substantial public services

Exception: Events occurring solely in the Seattle Center campus. These events are managed and permitted by Seattle Center staff.   

Yes, you need a Special Event Permit if there will be 500 people or more at any given time and ANY of the following apply: 

• The event will have a large impact on the park or surrounding neighborhood

• The event will have off-hours outdoor amplified sound. Those hours are 10:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. on weekends and 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. on weekdays.

• Event will require considerable public services

Note: Events occurring solely in stadiums or other venues managed by Transportation Management Plans don't need a standard Special Event Permit. This includes Lumen Field, Husky Stadium, Climate Pledge Arena, and T-Mobile Park. Contact the Special Events Office for more information. 

If your event requires a Special Events Permit based on any of the above criteria, the Special Events Committee will assign an event category to your event after an application is received. 

Event permitting fees and policies are based on the type of event category you are put in. 

Learn more about how each type of event is defined here.

Learn more about different special event fee types here.