CECM - Street Activity Permit Office
100 Gold Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10038

The Mayor’s Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO) issues permits for street fairs, festivals, block parties, green markets, commercial/promotional events, and other events on the City's streets and sidewalks.

SAPO Notice of Final Rulemaking
As of June 11th, 2009, SAPO recently created a new fee scale for all street activity permits.
Download the new rule change (in PDF)

All street events, including block parties and street fairs, are required to recycle. Non-compliance with recycling regulations is punishable by fines starting at $25 and increasing to $500 for repeat violations. Learn more

Please read below for detailed information on specific SAPO permit application processes.Special Event applications should be mailed or hand delivered to CECM - Street Activity Permit Office, 100 Gold Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10038. Block party/street fair applications must be submitted directly to your local community board.
Should you require further assistance please call 212-788-7567.

APPLICATION PROCESSES

• Once completed, block party applications must be submitted to the Local Community Board for their recommendation prior to SAPO review of the application. SAPO will only accept block party applications if filing with the Community Board is not possible. NOTE: Each Community Board has their own set of guidelines for accepting applications. It is the responsibility of the applicant to obtain a copy of these guidelines from the Community Board and adhere to them.
  
  
• All applications require a $15 non-refundable processing fee of either a money order or a certified check (made payable to the City of New York – Department of Finance).
  
  
• If the applicant will have rides at the event, SAPO requires a $1M certificate of liability insurance with the City of New York listed as an additional insured.
  
  
• The Community Board must forward its recommendation to SAPO at least 60 days prior to the event. SAPO recommends submission of block party applications to Community Boards 90 days prior to the event.
  
  
• It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure SAPO receives the application from the Community Board in a timely manner.
  
  
  • SAPO will reach out to the applicant if information is incomplete or support permits are required.
    
    
• If the application is complete and no support permits are required, SAPO will begin the review process and contact necessary agencies for their review.
  
  
• Upon agency review, SAPO may require the applicant to modify the event, change the event date or location, or deny the event.
  
  
• When all necessary information is received and the event is approved, the applicant will be issued a permit approximately two (2) weeks prior to the event date.

NOTE: If the Community Board denies an application, the applicant has the right to appeal the Community Board’s determination within five (5) business days of receipt by writing to the Director of SAPO at 100 Gold Street 2^nd Floor, New York, NY 10038. If the Director of SAPO denies the event, the applicant has the right to appeal within five (5) business days of receipt, by writing to the Executive Director of the Office of Citywide Event Coordination and Management (CECM)  at 100 Gold Street 2^nd Floor, New York, NY 10038.

STREET FAIR AND BLOCK PARTY PERMIT APPLICATION (in PDF)

Permit Process for All Street Festivals and All Multi-day/Multi-Block Events

• An application for a street festival or other event to be held on more than one block and/or more than one day must be filed by December 31st of the preceding year. Applications will not be accepted for these events past this deadline.
  
  
• As per Section 1-07 of Chapter 1 of Title 50 of the Rules of the City of New York, applications for street activity permits for events not held in the preceding calendar year will be denied.
  
  
• Applications are available online. Please select the “street fair” application and indicate anticipated event components (i.e., stage, amplified sound, rides, etc.) that may require support permits.
  
  
• All applications require a $15 non-refundable processing fee of either a money order or a certified check (made payable to the City of New York – Department of Finance).
  
  
• It is preferable that applications be submitted first to the local Community Board for review. However, SAPO will accept multi-day/multi-block applications directly hand delivered or mailed to: SAPO, 100 Gold Street, 2^nd floor, New York, NY 10038 and forwarded to the local Community Board.
  
  
• The Community Board must review and comment on applications before they are processed.
  
  
  • SAPO will reach out to the applicant if information is incomplete or support permits are required.
    
    
• If the application is complete and no support permits are required, SAPO will begin the review process and contact necessary agencies for their review.
  
  
• Upon agency review, SAPO may require the applicant to modify the event, change the event date or location, or deny the event.
  
  
• SAPO requires a $1M certificate of liability insurance with the City of New Yorklisted as an “additional insured.”
  
  
• When all necessary information is received and the event is approved, the applicant will be issued a permit approximately two (2) weeks prior to the event date.

NOTE: If the Community Board denies an application, the applicant has the right to   appeal the Community Board’s determination within five (5) business days of receipt in writing to the Director of SAPO at 100 Gold Street 2^nd Floor, New York, NY 10038. If the Director of SAPO denies the event, the applicant has the right to appeal within five (5) business days of receipt, by writing to the Executive Director of the Office of Citywide Event Coordination and Management (CECM)  at 100 Gold Street 2^nd Floor, New York, NY 10038.

STREET FAIR AND BLOCK PARTY PERMIT APPLICATION (in PDF)

Permit Process for All Promotional/Commercial Events

• Please see new SAPO fee scale.
  Learn about the new SAPO rule change (in PDF)
  
  
• Special Event Applications are available online. Please indicate anticipated event components (i.e., stage, amplified sound, rides, etc.)
  
  
• Promotional or commercial event applications are requested at least 14 days (10 business days) in advance of the event.
  
  
• Applications may be hand delivered or mailed to: SAPO, 100 Gold Street, 2^nd floor, New York, NY 10038
  
  
• All applications require a $15 non-refundable processing fee of either a money order or a certified check (made payable to the City of New York – Department of Finance).
  
  
• All Special Events require a $1M certificate of liability insurance with the City of New York listed as an additional insured for these events.
  
  
• SAPO will review the application and determine if the event is feasible.
  
  
  • SAPO will reach out to the applicant if information is incomplete or support permits are required.
    
    
• If the event is feasible, and if the application is complete and no support permits are required, SAPO will begin the review process and contact necessary agencies for their recommendations.
  
  
• Upon feedback from City agencies, SAPO may require the applicant to modify the event, change the event date or locations, or deny the event.
  
  
• SAPO will assess a fee based on the specific details of the event (in addition to the $15 processing fee), and an invoice will be given to the applicant.
  
  
• When all necessary information is received and the event is approved, the applicant will be issued a permit prior to the event date.

SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT APPLICATION (in PDF)