Special Event Permits

If you’re planning an event, the City of Bend might require you to get a Special Event Permit. This depends on the event’s size, location, and whether it’s open to the public. Remember, you can’t hold events in public rights of way without this permit.

Consider the following criteria in determining if your event needs a Special Event Permit:

• What is the location of your event and expected attendance?
  • If you’re planning an event in Bend with more than 150 attendees, that’s open to the public and located on City-owned property or in the public right-of-way, you’ll need a Special Event Permit.
  • If your event is outside City property but affects the public right-of-way, like race routes, you’ll need a Special Event Permit. This permit will mainly focus on reviewing your traffic control plan.
  • If you are planning a small, private event in the public right-of-way with fewer than 150 people, you’ll need to move it out of the public right-of-way. There is a city sponsored program that provides an exception to this requirement for Neighborhood District block parties. Learn more at the Bend Block Party webpage.

Reference the questions below to determine if you may qualify for a Special Event Permit:

1. Can you submit your application in enough time ahead of your event date?
   • New event: you must submit a complete Special Event Permit Application at least 90 days before the event. This means all required items are uploaded and the fees are paid.
   • Annually recurring events: you need to submit a complete application at least 60 days before the requested event date, with all required items uploaded and fees paid.
2. Does your event overlap with the timing or location of other events?
   Review the following items to effectively answer this question:
   • The City of Bend keeps a calendar of all permitted special event dates and locations.
   • Only 3 events with road closures are allowed downtown in July and August.
   • Only 2 events with road closures are allowed downtown from September through June.
   • Street closure requests in the downtown area will only be approved if the event can’t happen without closing the street or if there’s a safety reason.
   • Existing events have priority over new events.
3. Can you fully comply with all Special Event Requirements in the Bend Municipal Code?
   • Be sure to review in detail all of the requirements outlined in the Bend Municipal Code to be sure you can fully comply. 

Now that you have determined that your event needs a Special Event Permit follow these steps to ensure your event is well-organized and compliant with all city regulations. From submitting your application to coordinating with our staff and receiving your permit, we’ve outlined everything you need to know.

1Step: Application Submission

• Determine the type of event you will be holding and submit a complete Special Event Permit application with all required submittal items and pay the fee by following the steps in the guides below:
  • Regular Events Guide
    • If you’re planning an event open to the public, it will have over 150 attendees, and it is on City of Bend property or in the public right-of-way, use this guide.
  • Non-City Property Events Guide
    • If you’re planning a public event with more than 150 attendees that will be held outside of City of Bend property but will impact the public right-of-way (like race routes with start/finish areas in parks, schools, or other properties), use this guide. A race is an event with a start and a finish line that does NOT require either closure of the public roads and/or right of way or otherwise alteration to traffic patterns.
  • Sponsored Parades Event Guide
    • If you’re planning the Fourth of July Pet Parade, the Veterans Day Parade, or the Holiday Parade, use this guide.
• Check the Special Event Permit Fees section below for a complete schedule of fees.
• All the Requirements for Special Events can be found in detail in our Bend Municipal Code. Please review these requirements in detail to be sure your event will be in full compliance.
• We’ll assess traffic control plan review fees and let you know the amount before issuing the permit.
• As you plan for your event it may be helpful to sign up for our Weekly Road & Traffic Report to be informed of important road closures and updates.
• Zero Waste! Event Cycle Solutions Bin Loan Program. The Deschutes County EventCycle Solutions was designed to elevate community awareness and participation in recycling and sustainability at large-scale events in Bend. By integrating sustainable waste management into events, this project supported by the Bend Sustainability Fund, A Visit Bend Project, aligns with the Department of Solid Waste and City of Bend’s commitment to environmental responsibility, while encouraging eco-friendly behaviors among attendees. The bins are FREE to use. They can be picked up prior to event at Knott landfill. If you require a large number of stations, a trailer with stations can be dropped off at your event location with prior approval.
  •  Here is a handy pdf guide to review when hosting an event to reduce the amount of waste. Towards Zero Waste Event Guide

2Step: Staff Reviews

• Once we confirm your application is complete, our staff will start their reviews.
• If we have any corrections or questions, we’ll send them to you through your application in the Online Permit Center.
• We’ll schedule pre-event meetings if needed:
  • For all new events that haven’t been permitted before, a pre-event meeting is required.
  • For previously permitted events making significant changes, a pre-event meeting is required.
  • For returning events with issues from the previous year, a pre-event meeting is required.

3Step: Event Organizer Coordination

• Special Event Permit applicants need to coordinate with the relevant event parties at least 30 days before the event begins to ensure all event needs are met.
  • Examples of specific event needs: traffic control devices, traffic control plan, having a towing company on file for downtown events, volunteers, clean-up plan.

4Step: Permit is Issued

• We issue the permit.
• We send traffic impact notifications to the community.
• Our Fire Department staff inspect events with more than 500 attendees that are also serving alcohol.
• We’ll schedule post-event meetings if needed:
  • For events that receive complaints or public comments, a post-event meeting is required.
  • For events with implementation failures, a post-event meeting is required. 

Primary Fees

• Application Fee: $1,000.00
• Race Fee: $500.00
• Accessibility Plan Review: $55.00
• ADA Parking Sign Rental: $5.00 per sign
• Outlet Adapter Rental (for electricity on Brooks St.): $50.00 per adapter
• Up to 75% of the fee is refundable, depending on when you withdraw your application
• Appeal of Permit Decision: $200 per appeal

Traffic Control Plan Review Fees

Contact engineering@bendoregon.gov to find out which level your event needs:

• Level 1 – Low impact: $360.01 + 4% Long Range Planning Surcharge*
• Level 2 – Medium impact: $680.17 + 4% Long Range Planning Surcharge*
• Level 3 – High impact: $2,504.41 + 4% Long Range Planning Surcharge*
  • Level III plans need to be stamped by a traffic control engineer.

*The Long Range Planning Surcharge is a fee that helps pay for the work it takes to plan for Bend’s future for decades to come.

Miscellaneous Fees

• Extra fee for traffic signal changes contracted by the Oregon Department of Transportation. If your event needs signal changes, these fees will apply. Estimated costs:
  • Oregon Department of Transportation Electrical Support: $150 per hour

Processing Time

• Processing time can vary depending on the type of event being proposed. Some events take less City staff review resources, such as marathons. Other events, such as a large event with several vendors and significant street closures, take more time because they require more City staff review. For questions about expected processing times for your event, contact the Licensing Division. 

Our downtown district is the area surrounded by NW Newport Ave, NW Greenwood Ave, NW Hill St, NW Franklin Ave, NW Bond St, NW Louisiana Ave, NW Riverside Blvd, NW Tumalo Ave, and NW Harmon Blvd.

In July and August, we allow up to three special events per month that need street closures in the downtown district. During the rest of the year, we allow up to two events per month with street closures. We only approve street closure requests if the event can’t happen without it or if there’s a specific safety reason.

City Council can make exceptions to these limits if they decide that:

1. The street closure will be short or in a location that will not significantly affect downtown businesses, or it will happen at a time with minimal impact.
2. The event’s public benefit is greater than any negative impact on downtown businesses.

We maintain a Special Event Permits Calendar that lists the date and location of each special event. Existing events take precedence over new ones. If you’re planning an event downtown, make sure it doesn’t conflict with any events in Drake Park. You can check the Bend Parks & Recreation District calendar of community events online or call them at (541) 389-7275.

Frequently Asked Questions