The community is enriched by a full range of cultural and community events. The City has created a Special Event Guide 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.
Application and Resources
- Special Event Guide
- Special Event Application
- Fee Schedule
- Event Traffic Control Plan Information
- No Parking Sign Example
- 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.
