Special Event Permits
Welcome to the City of Huntsville’s online special event permit application system. This system allows users to submit and update information, track the status of an application and communicate with City departments regarding the details of your application from anywhere.
The online application assists event organizers in the development of event plans that comply with all codes, laws, policies and regulations
governing activities associated with the production and management of special events.
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS OUR SPECIAL EVENT PLANNING GUIDE
SPECIAL EVENT PERMITS
If you answer ‘yes’ to any of the following, you need to apply for a special event permit:
- Will your event include:
- Road closures
- Sale and/or distribution or consumption of alcoholic beverages
- Food vendors
- Vendors or exhibitors
- Excessive noise and/or amplified sound
- Generators or other sources of electricity
- City water resources
- Temporary stages or platforms
- Fencing or barriers
- Inflatables, jumpers, trampolines or carnival rides
- Artificial lighting (not including streetlights)
- Fire performances, fireworks or pyrotechnics
- Animals
- Water activities
- Do you anticipate 500 or more people at one time during the event?
- Will your event require city event services (police, HEMSI, etc.) more than the standard complement?
- Will your event require use of a City park?
NOTE: Special event permit applications should be submitted no later than 30 days prior to your event. Events involving alcohol require at least six (6) weeks to obtain an alcohol license.
CLICK HERE FOR A SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT OR PARK RESERVATION
SPECIAL EVENTS AT CITY PARKS
Obtaining a special event permit for events at a City park is a two-part process.
STEP 1
Event organizers must fill out a Park Reservation Application
. All reservations are tentative until a permit has been issued.
STEP 2Once you receive confirmation that the park you requested has been reserved, you will be prompted to complete a Special Event Permit Application, which provides the City of Huntsville with more in-depth details of the event.
Delays in providing required information may affect the ability to review an event application or result in the determination that the application is incomplete and cannot be approved. Incomplete applications will not be processed and applying does not guarantee that you will be issued a Special Event Permit.
OTHER REQUESTS FOR PARKS, FACILITIES AND AMENITIES
If your event or program does not meet any of the special event criteria outlined above and you would like to reserve a park, facility or recreation amenity, submit a Facility Use Application . You will be contacted by Huntsville Parks & Recreation for reservation confirmation or to provide additional details.
Note: There is no cost to submit a facility use application, though rental rates apply. Fees vary by location. For current rental rates, please call 256-883-3754.
SPECIAL EVENT AIRCRAFT LANDING PERMIT
For information about the special event aircraft landing permits and restrictions, review Chapter 6, Aviation Article 1 .
After reviewing this information, complete and submit the Special Event Aircraft Landing Permit. A representative with the Special Events Office will contact you regarding the status of your application. Applications requiring a road closure should be submitted no later than 30 business days prior to your event. Applications not impacting roads should be submitted no later than 10 business days prior to the event.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- Attendance of 500 people or more
- Activities that could impact traffic or pedestrians
- The sale of alcohol
- The discharging of fireworks or pyrotechnics
- Vendors selling goods/services
- The preparation and/or sale of food
Click here to read the City of Huntsville ordinance on each type of event.
The City welcomes filmmakers who want to use our beautiful city as a backdrop, and we are developing a Huntsville Film Office to help ease the process. Those interested in filming in Huntsville should email Film@HuntsvilleAL.govand provide contact information and specific project details, including preferred sites and whether traffic or pedestrian access would be affected. We also encourage you to visit the Alabama Film Office website to learn more about the benefits of filming in Alabama.
- Minor event permits (optional) must be submitted no later than 10 days prior to the event.
- Basic event permit applications must be submitted no later than 20 days prior to the event.
- Enhanced event permit applications must be submitted no later than 30 days prior to the event.
Events that involve alcohol require alcohol license applications six (6) weeks prior to the event.?
There is no application fee at this time.
Yes. Your special event permit application will not be approved without a detailed site plan.
Once your application is submitted, it will go through the process of being reviewed by the Office of Special Events as well as representatives from other departments. We will work diligently to ensure event organizers receive their permits in a timely fashion.
Permits will be reviewed as quickly as possible. Reviews depend on the complexity of the application.
You will receive an email from the Special Events Office along with a signed permit for you to download and print. If additional information is needed regarding your event, time or location, we will contact you.
In most cases, applicants fail to complete the application or submit the required documents. Other reasons why permits can be denied can be found in Chapter 23, Article IV, Division 2, Section 23-237 of the City’s ordinances .If you have questions about why your application was denied, contact the Special Events Office at SpecialEvents@HuntsvilleAL.gov .
Yes. Event organizers can contact the Office of Special Events in writing within five (5) days to request a hearing to appeal the decision. More information about appealing a denied permit application can be found here.
If you cancel or reschedule the date of your proposed event or any permitted elements of the event, you must notify the Special Events Office in writing no less than 48 hours in advance of the set-up time for your event. Should personnel or other resources be dispatched to support the proposed event, the event organizer will be assessed the cost of the services provided.
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