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Street Activity Permitting Office Rules

Our office must administer permits by the procedures outlined in the Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO) Rules. You may also download and read the full list of rules here. The City of New York makes all rules available online by visiting the Rules of the City of New York.  The Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO) of the Office of Citywide Event Coordination and Management (OCECM) is proposing amendments to extend the existing moratorium on street fair applications to Calendar Year 2022, and to extend the Open Culture program expiration date. Please click here to see the Notice of Public Hearing and Opportunity to Comment on Proposed Rule.

Read below for a summary on some of the rules to take into account before applying for an event permit in New York City.

  • Before your SAPO permit is administered, your application will receive recommendations for approval from the Community Board and NYPD.
  • We will not provide a permit unless all other City agency permits are obtained.
  • All events must have a minimum of $1 million certificate of liability insurance, unless it is a block party without a ride.
  • All street events, including block parties and street fairs are required to recycle.
  • All events with a full street closure must allow for a 15 foot emergency vehicle lane.
  • Street Fair applicants and community sponsors are limited to one event per application and two events per calendar year.
  • Rain dates are not permitted.

The Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO) of the Office of Citywide Event Coordination and Management (CECM) is proposing amendments to extend the existing moratorium on street fair applications to Calendar Year 2023. Download the full text for the rule.

Attendees who need reasonable accommodation for a disablity such as a sign language translation should contact the agency by calling or emailing saporules@cityhall.nyc.gov by November 21, 2022

Send comments by

  • Email: saporules@cityhall.nyc.gov
  • Mail: Shawn Ma, Strategic Projects Manager, Mayor’s Office of Citywide Event Coordination and Management, 253 Broadway Room/Floor: 6th Floor ; New York, New York 10007