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1. Do I need a Special Event Permit?

Outdoor events located on public property, and some events located on private property, require a special event permit when they meet certain criteria.

YES, for any announced gathering held outdoors on city property (City Scale 500+) whenever any of the following criteria are met:
(a) Attendance is expected to exceed 250 people at any one point in time;
(b) Public street or other public right-of-way closure will be required;
(c) Live entertainment, mobile vendors, or alcoholic beverages will be provided; or
(d) Admission will be charged.

YES, for any announced gathering held outdoors not on city property (City Scale 250-499) whenever any of the following criteria are met:
(a) Attendance is expected to exceed 250 people at any one point in time;
(b) Public street or other public right-of-way closure will be required;
(c) Mobile vendors will be provided; or
(d) Admission will be charged.

YES, for any announced gathering held outdoors on city property (Neighborhood Scale) where all of the following criteria are met:
(a) Attendance is not expected to exceed 250 people total;
(b) No mobile vendors or alcoholic beverages will be provided;
(c) Admission will not be charged;
(d) No public streets or other public rights-of-way are required to be closed; and
(e) The event will be held on city property identified on the Neighborhood-Scale Public Special Event Map.

Events exempt from special event permitting include:
(a) Normal and customary use of City of Hampton owned or leased outdoor recreational facilities
(b) Rentals of city parks, including park shelters, but only if none of the City-Scale Public Special Event Criteria are met.
(c) Customary and regularly scheduled public school, private school, or college/university activities taking place on the school or college/university’s property, unless the event requires closure of a public street or other public right-of-way, or use of additional City of Hampton staff.
(d) Normal and customary events taking place at open-air venues permitted by the City of Hampton zoning ordinance when the event will not exceed the capacity permitted by the certificate of occupancy.

2. What if I miss the submittal deadline or want to plan an event at the last minute?

The ordinance specifies City Scale Special Event Permits with more than 500 people must be submitted at least 90 days prior to an event, City Scale Special Event Permits with fewer than 500 people must be submitted at least 60 days prior to an event, and Neighborhood Scale Special Event Permits must be submitted at least 30 days prior to an event. Submission of a special event permit application after the submittal deadline constitutes grounds for denial of the special event permit, and the special event coordinator may return the application without further review.

3. What is application review based upon?

Application review criteria is standardized for each application to ensure a fair and consistent review. Many departments review for compliance with specific codes and ordinances (please see the Applications and Special Event Guidebook for help completing your application). Review is based upon the following criteria:

(1) The proposed event will not unreasonably interfere with the normal use of city property by the city or the general public;
(2) The proposed event does not present a safety or health risk to participants, spectators, the general public, or an environmental hazard;
(3) The proposed event is compatible with the surrounding area or neighborhood in consideration of anticipated noise, traffic, crowd capacity, and other similar factors;
(4) City resources necessary to support the proposed activity are reasonably available; and
(5) The special event coordinator has received all licenses, fees, approvals, and materials required by this article within five (5) calendar days of the proposed event date.

4. How many events may I host each year?

You can host an unlimited number of events so long as they are properly reviewed and permitted. If the events are substantially similar in nature (such as a recurring farmer’s market or a concert series), it is possible to apply for a recurring event permit with a duration of up to one year.

5. What happens if I don’t get a permit for my event?

It is important to properly permit your event in order to ensure the safety of the public and to allow the City to allocate emergency services personnel to your event, if necessary. A written violation will be issued to the event organizer and property owner the first time an event is held without obtaining a permit, and each will be disqualified from applying for a special event permit for 18 months from the date of the violation. Each following violation will additionally be punishable with a misdemeanor and a fine of up to $500.00.

Please remember if you are unsure of whether or not your event needs to obtain a Special Event permit, you may contact the Special Event Coordinator at eventpermits@hampton.gov or 757.727.6640.