City of Columbus

I. INTRODUCTION 

II. DEFINITIONS 

III. EVENT PLANNING TIMELINES AND CHECKLISTS 

IV. EVENT OPERATION REQUIREMENTS 
A. Parks & Waterways
     1. Park Permit
     2. Marine Event Permit
B. Streets & Sidewalks
     1. Block Party/ Street Closure Permit
     2. Occupancy Permit
     3. Parade Permit
C. Event Operations Permits
     1. Temporary Event Permit
     2. Fireworks, Pyrotechnics and Flame Effects Exhibition Permit
     3. Temporary Food Service License
     4. Commercial Sales/ Promoter License
     5. Community Noise Permit
     6. Festival Registration - Tent & Electrical Permits
     7. Carnival/ Circus License
     8. Charitable Solicitation Permit

V. CONTRACTED SERVICES 
A. City Services
     1. Temporary Removal of Metered Parking
     2. Litter Removal/ Recycling/ Trash Clean Up
     3. Temporary Water
     4. Electricity
     5. EMS, Fire Prevention, Hazmat, Assessment and DART
     6. Security/ Crowd and Traffic Control
     7. Requesting the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages
B. Privately Contracted Services
     1. Traffic Control Devices
     2. Crowd Control Devices
     3. Tents on Public Streets
     4. Portable Restrooms
     5. Grease, Ash, and Gray Water Disposal

VI. UTILIZING PARK DEPARTMENT FACILITIES 
A. Securing Park Facilities for Event Use
     1. Advance Annual Reservations                                                                                                      
     2. Riverfront Parks                                                                                                                          
     3. Gated/Private Events                                                                                                                   
     4. Regional and Neighborhood Parks                                                                                               
     5. Insurance Requirements
     6. Refund Policy
B. Site Policies for Park Facilities
     1. Tents in Public Parks
     2. Mobile Stages/ Platforms
     3. Park Electricity
     4. Conducting Sales and Fundraising within Parks
     5. Alcohol Policy for Park Shelterhouses
     6. Banners and Signage
     7. Your Safety and Safety of Others
     8. Emergency Alcohol Plan
     9. Post-Event Site Inspection

VII. CONTACTS FOR CITY SERVICES 

VIII. MAPS OF DOWNTOWN VENUES 

A. Scioto Mile Greenway & Parks
B. Bicentennial Park 
C. Scioto Mile Promenade
D. Genoa Park 
E. West Bank
F. McFerson Commons 
G. North Bank
H. Goodale
I. Franklin
J. Wolfe Park

IX. Appendix A. Special Events Permit Application
B. Sample Certificate of Insurance
C. Block Party Permit Application with Major Downtown Contacts
D. Occupancy Permit Application (Dept. of Public Service)
E. Sample of Emergency No Stopping Signage (Dept. of Public Service)
F. Sample of Public Notice Parking Restriction Signage (Dept. of Public Service)
G. Special Event Evaluation Request Form (Div. of Fire EMS)
H. Temporary Event Permit Application (Div. of Fire, Special Inspections)
I.  Fireworks, Pyrotechnics Permit Application (Div. of Fire, Special Inspections)
J. Temporary Food License Application (Columbus Public Health)
K. Parade Permit Application (License Section – Public Safety)
L. Community Noise Permit Application (License Section – Public Safety)
M. Commercial Sales/Promoter License Application (License Section – Public Safety)
N. Carnival/Circus License Application (License Section – Public Safety)
O. Charitable Solicitation Permit Application (License Section – Public Safety)
P. Festival Registration for Tents and Stages Application (Building & Zoning Services)
Q. Electric Permit Application (Building & Zoning Services Dept.)
R. Fire Hydrant Permit Application (Div. of Water)
S. Best Management Practices for Special Events (Storm Water Section) 
T. Bicentennial Park Arts Pavilion Stage & Sound System Rental Agreement
U. Marine Event Permit Application

X. RESOURCES

2017 Special Event Planning Guide
Event Fee Estimator Tool

Parking Locations (Scioto Mile) 
Parking Meters  
Paving the Way  
Virtual Tail Ride
Zero Waste Planning Guide 

The Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) is now offering financial support to local public event organizers to assist with the promotion of waste reduction activities, increasing recycling and composting at events and generating public awareness about waste reduction.

Green Event Guide
SWACO Community Waste Reduction Grant Information 
SWACO Event Waste Reduction Grant Information
SWACO Recycling Container Loan Program Information