The community is enriched by a full range of cultural and community events. The City has created a Special Event Guide (including application and fee schedule) as a resource to assist event sponsors in the production of safe, well-organized, and low-impact events. A Special Event is defined as:
- Temporary – not a normal use of a facility or property;
- A large number of people watching and/or participating; and / or
- Involves or impacts the public realm (for examples, by requiring City services beyond the normal capacity, generating traffic, parking, noise, etc.).
Examples of Special Events include carnivals, parades, races/fun runs, festivals, block parties, film crews, temporary use of a building outside the normal approved occupancy (e.g. haunted house, reception in a warehouse, etc.) and more. A Special Event permit is required for these activities, with some exceptions.
Resources
- Special Event Guide (2,169k PDF) – Version 3.0, updated May 21, 2018 to include revised insurance requirements, clarification of application submittal, the addition of Parkade Rooftop requirements and the addition of a filming section.
- Special Event Application
- Fee Schedule
- Traffic Control Plan Information – Version 2.0, updated May 3, 2017 to include changes to the time limits required for posting NO PARKING sings and additional pre-approved / road closure areas.
- No Parking Sign Example
- Emergency Action Plan Template
- Signature Verification Form
- Indemnification / Hold Harmless Agreement – Special Events
- Insurance Requirement Summary
- Bellingham Municipal Code 13.13 – Special Events
For more information, contact the Permit Center at (360) 778-8300 or pwpermits@cob.org.
