Subject: Special Event Permits 

Revised: April 2025 

Purpose: Special Event Permits are required for any organized, temporary event with an estimated number of participants and spectators of 100 or more people set up outdoors in a parking lot, side of the road, open land, or any outdoor premise not normally or intended to be used for an assembly or using a building for an event with an anticipated occupancy load of 50 or more if the building is not permitted and constructed as an assembly occupancy. Additionally, if a building is utilized for any purpose other than the intended occupancy for which the building was approved or constructed, and the temporary use is a higher life hazard, a more hazardous operation, or potential threat to the wellbeing of the anticipated attendants or occupants a Special Event Permit is required. Any venue or premise that has a current outdoor assembly venue permit and is hosting an event that is outside of normal daily operations or hosting an event that is over the normal daily average of attendance by 100 attendees shall obtain a Special Event Permit.  

Special Event permits are unique in nature and are approved for a short period. Special Event permits are for a single event and cannot be renewed. Each new event shall require a new application and permit. 

It is the responsibility of the applicant for a special event permit to determine if the premise wishing to be utilized for an event is located in unincorporated Harris County or a municipality prior to making application. If it is determined after the issuance of a permit that the permitted premise is inside of a municipality, outside of unincorporated Harris County, or for any other reason, not required to obtain a permit, all fees for issued permit are non-refundable.   

Applicability: Special Event Permits are required for the listed types of events. It should be understood that this is not an all-inclusive list and it is the Fire Code Official’s authority to determine the types of events or usage of open space land, side of the roadway, parking lot, or building that requires a Special Event Permit.  

Fees: Permit Fees are based on anticipated attendees either per single event like a concert or large party, or by aggregate amount over the course of the event like a farmer’s market or trade show.  

Requirements: Each event permit will be issued once an application has been completed appropriately, all applicable documents have been uploaded, and a fire and life safety inspection has been successfully passed.  

Applications will be completed electronically, and all required documentation shall be uploaded electronically. There shall be no paper submissions for event permits. Permit application shall be completed and submitted through the approved Harris County software program. Once the application is received along with all required documentation, the Fire Code Official will conduct a review, and schedule an inspection for when the event is set up and ready to open. When the permit process is complete, and authorization is given, the applicant will be notified that the permit is issued, and the duration of the permit will be indicated.  

All Special Event Permit applications will begin with generalized information. This information will pertain to the event promoter/coordinator/operator/host, event address, event dates, etc. Furthermore, all permit applications will require a written statement describing the event to be permitted. There are some events which will require multiple permits and an application will need to be completed for each type of permit. It should be noted that this standard is written to give generalized information about event permits and upon review of any application, additional information may be requested prior to and to assist with the approval of any permit. 

Any event that is anticipated to affect a public roadway including road closures, SHALL have the application, including road closure plans, submitted no later than 90 business days excluding weekends and holidays, prior to the intended start date of the event. The application packet will be forwarded to the Harris County Traffic Division for review and approval. However, it is the responsibility of the event coordinator to contact the Traffic Division, to answer any additional questions or provide further information if needed. A failure to submit the Special Event application involving public roadway impact, with less than 90 business days’ notice may result in the special event application being denied or double permit fees required.  

All other special events which do not anticipate public roadway impact, SHALL have application packet submitted a minimum of 30 business days excluding weekends and holidays, prior to the event start date. A failure to turn in a completed special event application 30 business days prior to the anticipated start date of the event, shall result in double permit fees. Special event applications submitted 10 business days or less prior to the anticipated start date shall result in denial.  

         *** Event must be set up completely 1 hour prior to listed start time *** 

When applying for a Special Event operational permit the applicant shall provide the following information: 

• Fully completed Event Emergency Contact form, provided by the fire code official. 

• Detailed written description of the on-site operation including dates and time of operation and the estimated number of attendees for the duration of the event, total. 

• Site map identifying all event entrances, fire department access, layout of vendors, rides, cooking locations including LP gas storage or solid fuel storage, access gates, storage areas, tent(s), placement of stages, bleachers, or grandstands, portable toilets, fire extinguisher, temporary structures, all exit signs, water supply (fire hydrants, tanks), first aid stations, medical tent(s), generator locations and all street closures around the event. 

• Copy of the site security plan, crowd management plan (Not fewer than two trained crowd managers, and not less than one trained crowd manager for each 250 persons or portion thereof, shall be provided for the gathering. Outdoor events with fewer than 500 persons in attendance shall not require crowd managers), an emergency plan to include active shooter, weather, fire, etc., medical and safety plan, compliant with Chapter 4 of the International Fire Code, current adopted edition. In your emergency plan it must be listed who is on-site, in-charge of the event and who has the authority to stop the event. This plan shall include the statement “Any law enforcement officer has the authority to shut down the event in the interest of public safety” in addition to the in-charge personnel.   

• Written statement identifying number of cylinders, volume of cylinders, amount of LP-gas on-site, type of LP-gas used [Liquid propane (LP) and natural gas]. 

• Detailed information on the company(s) hired to deliver and install all tents or temporary membrane structure on-site for the event. It is the event host or promoter’s responsibility to ensure that all tents and/or temporary membrane structures utilized as part of an event have been permitted. 

• Detailed information on the company(s) hired to deliver and install all special event structures such as stages, bleachers, grandstands or other structures assembled for the use of the event. It is the event host or promoter’s responsibility to ensure that all special event structures utilized as part of an event have been permitted. 

• Written documentation stating if alcohol is going to be sold, served, or consumed and date application was submitted to TABC or copy of the TABC caterer’s license. 

• Written documentation stating if food is to be served and if application was made to Harris County Public Health. 

• Written documentation listing the promoter’s name, address, and contact number. 

• Written documentation of the maximum number of persons allowed to attend the event and the plan in place to limit the attendance to that number. 

• Written description of each step the event coordinator/ promoter has taken to ensure that minimum standards of sanitation and health will be maintained during the event. 

• Written description of all preparations being made to provide traffic control, to ensure that the event will be conducted in an orderly manner, and to protect the physical safety of the persons who attend the event.  

• Events using generators or light tower for auxiliary power shall ensure that the equipment is grounded per manufacture’s specifications or proof from the manufacturer that a ground is not required. Each generator or light tower shall have a readily available fire extinguisher of the “ABC” type, acceptable to the fire code official.  

• Events using carnival rides provide annual TDI certificate of inspection for all supplied rides. 

If one or more of the requested documents does not apply to your location, please submit in writing a reason for not submitting.  

Exemptions: The following events do not require application for a special event permit. 

• Use of an event center or assembly building for the intended use as designed. 

• Sporting events in stadiums or other venues that are designed for such events, OR 

• Parades, fun runs, bike rides/races, trail rides, or marathons unless in conjunction with another activity that requires a permit. Approval for road usage or traffic management shall be approved by the Harris County Engineering Traffic Division 

Other Permits: Special events permits cover the event and premise where the event occurs including all exits, fire department access, emergency plans, crowd management plans, and security plans. Events which require tents or temporary membrane structures, stages, bleachers, grandstands, or the use of LP gas; additional permits are required.  

Vehicles. Events that are set up for or a part of the event includes liquid or gas fueled vehicles being located inside of a building requires a secondary permit for this type of operation. Liquid-or-gas-fueled vehicles or equipment in assembly buildings is an operational permit per the adopted fire code section 105.6.26. 

Tents or Membrane Structures. Events that use tents or temporary air supported membrane structures that have an area of 400 square feet or multiple tents with an aggregate area of 700 square feet without required separation require an operational permit per the adopted fire code section 105.6.49.  

LP gas. Events where LP gas is used for any purpose shall require a separate permit for LP gas usage per the adopted fire code section 105.6.27. 

Temporary Special Event Structures. Any temporary event structure including but not limited to stages, bleachers, grandstands, etc. shall be permitted separately from the event permit per the adopted fire code section 105.7.23. 

Mobile Food Units/Food Trucks. If an event includes mobile food units as part of the event, it is the responsibility of the event coordinator to ensure that each mobile food unit is permitted to operate within unincorporated Harris County, per the adopted fire code section 105.6.30. 

Pyrotechnics. Any use of pyrotechnics, special effects, or firework displays requires a separate permit per the adopted fire code section 105.6.42. This includes 1.3G displays and 1.4G displays before an audience of 50 or more people.  

Outdoor Assembly Venue. Locations set up to host outdoor events regularly as the purpose of a business require annual operational permits per the adopted fire code section 105.6.38. Special event permits are required for these locations only when hosting a single event that extends outside of the designed area of the issued permit, an event that is outside of the normal daily business practices, increases the normal level of activity on the property (i.e. concert venue with a temporary carnival for an event, or an ATV park hosting a concert or other promoted event). 

Place of Assembly. Locations set up for gatherings of people including churches, theaters, night clubs, sports stadiums, etc. require annual operational permits per the adopted fire code section 105.6.39.

These venues require special event permits only when a single hosted event is outside of the normal daily business practices, increases the normal level of activity, or changes the designed layout of the facility (i.e. open gathering or meeting rooms transformed into a trade show, farmers market or other mercantile event that uses booths or segmenting the floor space for each separate event).  

If one or more of the requested documents does not apply to your location, please submit in writing a reason for not submitting. 

Denial: If it is determined that an application fails to meet the requirements as set forth in this standard or the applicant refuses to provide all required documentation, the fire code official shall not issue a permit, but shall return the application to the applicant with explanation for refusal.  

Revocation: The fire code official is authorized to revoke a permit where it is found that there has been false statements or misrepresentation as to the material facts in the application or supporting documentation on which the approval and issuance was based, the permit was issued to a different person or firm than named on the permit, the permittee failed, refused or neglected to comply with orders or notices duly served in accordance with the provisions of this code within the time provided therein, or the permit was issued in error or in violation of an ordinance, regulation or this code.  

Special Notes:  

1) In accordance with Title 9, Chapter 42, Section 42.01, of the Texas Penal Code, it is considered Disorderly Conduct if a person intentionally or knowingly makes unreasonable noise in a public place other than a sport shooting range, as defined by Section 250.001, Texas Local Government Code. A noise is presumed to be unreasonable if the noise exceeds a decibel level of 85 after the person making the noise receives notice from a magistrate or peace officer that the noise is a public nuisance. An offense under this section is a Class C Misdemeanor. 

2) Date and time of the events shall not be before 8:00 AM or after 10:00 PM Sunday through Thursday, and not before 8:00 AM or after 2:00 AM on Friday and Saturday. The Fire Code Official has the discretion to approve additional times for holidays or special circumstances.