Special Event Licenses

Submit a paper application with all supporting materials and required fees to the City Clerk's Office. The base permit fee is currently $100. Depending upon the event plans, additional permits and fees may be required. 

All applications must be approved by the City Council before a permit is issued.

Contact licenses@rochestermn.gov for an Event Permit Application.

Applications for special events need to be received by the City Clerk's Office at least 30 days prior to the event date. If an application is submitted less than 30 days in advance, the City Council must grant special authorization to approve the shorter window. There is no guarantee an event application can be processed and approved in less than 30 days.

Larger events require an application a minimum of 60 days in advance.

Because applications must be approved by the City Council, there must be enough time for a full application review, usually by multiple departments, before it can be presented at a City Council meeting. There is no ability to obtain approval if there is no City Council meeting before your planned event.

Fireworks displays require a permit from the Fire Department. An application can be made through the Citizen Access permitting portal. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Fire Department at 507-328-2056.

If you are requesting the closure of a street, sidewalk, or other public way or place as part of your event, you will also need to apply for a right-of-way obstruction permit with the Public Works Department.

Along with your special event permit application, you will also need to submit a detailed layout of any proposed closures and a designated route around them. Arrangements for traffic control must be made by a certified vendor in accordance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and submitted with the application. Law enforcement officers must be used at all traffic-controlled intersections.

Street closures also require notification to all impacted residents or businesses. Such closures are not allowed for locations where there are no other access options for the businesses or residents. You will be responsible for paying meter bagging fees for any closures that include parking meters within the closure area.

If alcohol service is planned as part of the event, you will need to indicate under what authority alcohol will be provided. A temporary liquor license is one option that requires a separate application with the City Clerk's Office.

Any alcohol service at an event will require security approval from the Police Department. This may include fencing of the area of alcohol service, specific plans for ensuring only those over 21 are consuming alcohol, and providing security in the form of off-duty police officers. The number of off-duty officers required for an event will be determined by the Police Department in reviewing the event application.

If you plan to set up a tent, canopy, or other temporary membrane structure for your event, you will need to contact the Fire Department to determine whether a tent permit is required. An application can be made through the Citizen Access permitting portal.

If you have any questions, please contact the Fire Department at 507-328-2056.

Any street closures must include identified routes for emergency vehicles through the event area. As part of the application, describe how you plan to meet any emergencies, including medical needs, occurring during the event.

The Fire Department and Police Department will both review all event plans to determine whether any additional services are required from those departments.

The permit application needs to include information about the entity or entities sponsoring an event, the event name, date and time of the event, and its location. A detailed description and diagram of the area to be used at the event location for any activities must be included with your application.

In indicating the event time, please also provide details about any setup and teardown time required for the event, in addition to the planned event hours.

Please also provide details on the estimated attendance for your event, including whether tickets are being sold and any plans to monitor and limit attendance if necessary.

Provide a detailed description of your food and beverage plans for the event, including any alcohol service. This should include information about any vendors participating in the event or supplying food or beverages. If a caterer will be used, the application can serve to provide the required notification to the City Clerk and Police Chief about plans to provide alcohol under a state catering license incidental to the service of food.

City trash cans are not an acceptable plan for handling waste generated during an event. As part of the application, provide details on how sanitation and garbage disposal will be handled, including the number of trash stations to be deployed for the event and the entity that will provide those receptacles, along with plans for pickup. This cost is the responsibility of the event sponsors.

Also include information about any toilets and wash stations to be provided as part of the event, including the vendor providing these and the number planned.

City teammates will review these plans and advise if additional quantities will be required based on the event plans.