Special Event Guide

INTRODUCTION

In New Orleans, fes-

vals are a way of life. With

over 120 fesvals, events, and

outdoor markets, the City has

more fesval days than week-

end days in a year. These

events feature our world-

renowned cuisine, unique vis-

ual art, and unparalleled mu-

sical talents.

The City of New Orleans

wishes to nurture its fesvals

and events, from the smallest

neighborhood get-together to

Mardi Gras. Not only do our

fesvals bring in over $760

million in economic impact

and 2.2 million aendees each

year, but they also are intrin-

sic to the quality of life in the

city, provide jobs for workers,

and express our idenes as

New Orleanians to each other

and the world.

The following pages include all of the applicaons you

could need to hold a fesval, market, outdoor concert,

race/marathon, professional sporng event, wedding,

trade show, block

party or second line. Before each ap-

plicaon, we have included an explanaon of the process

and instrucons to help you beer navigate the per-

ming process for your event,

big or small. We also have

provided you with a checklist for

required aachments.

Without these aachments, your applicaons will not be

processed. At the end of this Guide are

reference materi-

als: a fee list and applicaon index.

Every event in the City is a chance for us to share with

visitors and each other the culture of New Orleans, and

bring

our neighborhoods closer together. Thank you for

making

this vital part of our cultural economy possible.

OVERVIEW

Aer you complete the relevant permit applicaons, please detach the pages from the

booklet and bring them into the One Stop at City Hall, 1300 Perdido Street, 7th Floor. Indi-

vidual applicaons and more are available at the One Stop website. You will be

con-

tacted by the One Stop as your applicaon is being processed. You may be contacted

by individual perming departments if they have specic quesons about your applicaon

or need more informaon to process your request.

Please note that most public special events must obtain a Promoter’s Occupaonal Li-

cense

and Mayoralty Permit (Supplement A). It is required that you answer ALL ques-

ons on the

Master Applicaon so that all necessary permits can be acquired. Please

read through it

carefully and provide all requested informaon.

THE OFFICE OF CULTURAL ECONOMY, THE CITY COUNCIL, THE MAYOR’S OFFICE,

AND/

OR

THE INDIVIDUAL PERMITTING DEPARTMENTS (I.E. SAFETY & PERMITS) NO

LONGER

ACCEPT APPLICATIONS.

PLEASE READ THE GUIDE CAREFULLY AND RE-

MIT APPLICATIONS TO THE ONE STOP SHOP ON THE 7TH FLOOR OF CITY HALL, OR

YOU CAN VISIT

THE ONE STOP ONLINE AT hp://www.nola.gov/special-events/ FOR

ONLINE APPLICATIONS.

FOR BEST RESULTS AND OPTIMUM SERVICE,

PLEASE BEGIN THE PERMITTING PRO-

CESS

AT LEAST 90 DAYS AHEAD OF YOUR EVENT.

ATTACHMENT CHECKLIST

THE FOLLOWING ATTACHMENTS MAY BE REQUIRED FOR ANY SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT

APPLICATION. THE APPLICATION WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED COMPLETELY SUBMITTED

UNTIL ALL ATTACHMENTS CHECKED OFF BY STAFF BELOW HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED.

MASTER APPLICATION

Approval leer from property owner or business owner

Plot plan/layout of the locaon showing the tents and their distances from each other

(tents less than 12’ apart will be reviewed as one) and the nearest buildings, structures with

dimensions, and property line. Please use an image of the area from an online map ser-

vice (not a hand drawn image). If seang will be provided, show seang/chair arrange-

ments.

Copy of PortoLets contract, waste company contract, and/or other relevant contracts

SUPPLEMENT A: SPECIAL EVENT PROMOTER/VENDOR

Promoter-List of vendors (including any food trucks parcipang)

Staonary Vendor-vericaon of parcipaon from promoter, occupaonal license

SUPPLEMENT B: NON-COMMERCIAL STREET CLOSURE/BLOCK PARTY

Name of Clean-up or Dumpster Company, and copy of contract if available

Peon signed by 100% of the residents, property owners, or property managers

Trac Impact Study (secured in conjuncon with Department of Public Works)

SUPPLEMENT C: PARADE PERMIT APPLICATION

Name of Clean-up company and copy of contract

Parade route map

SUPPLEMENT D: PARK & REC CENTER BOOKING REQUEST

Name of Clean-up company and copy of contract

SUPPLEMENT E: TENT PERMIT APPLICATION

Cercate of Flame Resistance/Retardant for tent fabric (required for each tent)

Plot plan/layout of the locaon showing the tents and their distances from each other

(tents less than 12’ apart will be reviewed as one) and the nearest buildings, structures

with dimensions, and property line. Please use an image of the area from an online map

service (not a hand drawn image). If seang will be provided, show seang/chair arrange-

ments.

SUPPLEMENT F: ENTERTAINMENT APPLICATION

Leer with live seal from a Louisiana Registered Architect of Civil Engineering stang

structure capabilies and sizes (Stages, Reviewing Stand, or Bracing).

Plot plan showing a minimum setback of 6 feet from property lines and dimensions of

sales

area (Concession Stand)

SUPPLEMENT G: SPECIAL EVENT SAFETY/SECURITY APPLICATION

If necessary, aach details regarding how potenal hazards may be used in the

event.

If

not using City of New Orleans EMS, copy of contract with private EMS company

Plot plan/layout of the locaon showing the tents and other details (see Plot Plan details

above)

SUPPLEMENT H: TAX EXEMPTION FOR NON-PROFITS

Copy of organizaon leer issued by IRS or Secretary of State verifying tax exempt status

MASTER APPLICATION

The Master Applicaon helps us determine what permits

and licenses you will need for your event. Perming is

generally done by item and acvity. So tents need a tent

permit,

a parade needs a parade permit, serving alcohol

requires a temporary alcoholic beverage license, etc.

Please be sure

to answer all of the quesons on the next

page so that your

event will not miss any legally required

permits.

The Master Applicaon also includes basic informaon that

may be included on the online calendar and, most essenal-

ly,

your Event Locaon informaon.

NOTE THAT SECURING THE EVENT LOCATION IS RE-

QUIRED

FOR ALL EVENTS. IF YOU ARE HOLDING A SPE-

CIAL EVENT,

YOU MUST READ AND COMPLETE THE FOL-

LOWING PER-

MISSIONS OR PROCESSES TO SECURE

YOUR LOCATION.

Please look through the following items below and ob-

tain the relevant permissions to use the property for a spe-

cial

event. If you are not sure if your event is located in a

special

district or other type of area detailed below, please

contact

specialevents@nola.gov.



If the event is taking place on a neutral ground or oth-

er

public green space, ll out the Supplement D ap-

plicaon.



If the event is taking place in a NORDC (New Orle-

ans Recreaon Development Commission) play-

ground, park or facility, please ll out the Supplement

D applicaon.



If the event is taking place on public property, con-

tact

the Department of Public Property Management

to

obtain wrien approval: Adrienne Recasner, 504-

658-

3600, aarecasn[email protected].



If the event is located on private property not belong-

ing to organizaon holding the event, secure wrien

approval from the property owner. This can be in the

form

of a lease, rental agreement, or a leer granng

permission.



If the event is taking place in the street, please see

the

Street Closure secon below and ll out Supple-

ment B.

SUPPLEMENT A

PROMOTER/ORGANIZER

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALMOST ALL EVENTS MUST OBTAIN

A PROMOTER OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE AND MAYORAL-

TY

PERMIT.

File Supplement A for Promoter Occupaon-

al Li

cense and Mayoralty Permit.

All Promoters that are including independent vendors at

their event must include a vendor list

with their applica-

on.

A template vendor list follows these instrucons. Ven-

dor lists

must include the Vendor Business Name, Contact

Name, Mailing Address, Phone Number, and Account Num-

ber. A sample Occupaonal License with this number cir-

cled will follow these instrucons. The nine-digit account

number appears in

the lower le-hand corner of the vendor

license.

All for-prot Promoters that are including 3 or more

vendors must obtain a Sales Tax Payment Performance

Bond of

$10,000 before being issued their event permits.

Inquire at the One Stop Shop for more details on obtaining a

bond and whether your organizaon and event require a

bond.

VENDOR LICENSE APPLICATIONS BY

PROMOTERS

The One Stop is now oering a more ecient way to regis-

ter your vendors for licenses. Submit a vendor list like the

example below, along with a check for the total amount of

vendor registraon.

It is strongly suggested that you

charge the $50 license fee to your vendors as part of their

booth or

parcipaon fee.

The Department of Revenue will contact you when all ven-

dor licenses are ready to pick up. If your vendors already

have a special event occupaonal license like the one

shown below,

you can supply the account number on the

spreadsheet in

lieu of the $50 fee.

*NOTE:

Some businesses have an occupaonal license that

authorizes them to operate at their normal brick and mor-

tar

locaon or as a mobile food truck, etc. Such a license

does

not replace a vendor’s license. Please review the li-

censes of anyone signing up to be a vendor to make sure

that it states

“Special Event – Vendor” like the example be-

low.

SUPPLEMENT A (cont.)

VENDOR LICENSE APPLICATIONS BY

VENDORS

File Supplement A if you are a Vendor at a special event

or

trade show.

Each calendar year from January 1st

through December 31st, any vendor at a special event or

trade show will

need to ll out the Supplement A to ob-

tain the Trade Show

Vendor Occupaonal License. This

applies to vendors selling

all items and also food vendors.

Mobile food trucks that already have an occupaonal li-

cense will also have to acquire this license in order to

vend

at the event

beyond alloed parking mes, or to su-

persede other normal restricons.

Arsts/Vendors who sell ONLY their own hand-made

cras/

art and are Louisiana residents

may be exempt

from the $50

fee. Please note that hand-made items may

not include altered clothing or other cras that are not

composed of material that is primarily craed by the hand

of the vendor, and

the Bureau of Revenue will make the

nal decision on what

qualies.

Please note that if the applicant is a rst-me Trade

Show

Vendor, you will only be licensed if you are part of a

special event and the promoter has included you on their

vendor

list. New vendors will also need to bring in a

leer from the promoter stang that they are an ocial

vendor for the specic event.

Once you have obtained your

license, you

may then use it at other events throughout the

calendar year

unl December 31st and renew it annually in

January.

SALES TAXES FOR PROMOTERS & VENDORS

Vendors and Promoters at Special Events and Trade

Shows,

must pay sales tax to the City of New Orleans.

See

www.nola.gov/en/BUSINESSES/Bureau-of-Revenue/

for

more informaon and to obtain forms or to contact the

Bureau of Revenue directly. Sales Taxes can also be paid

online

using the link above.

If a vendor is selling original art and the event is taking

place

in a Cultural Products District, the vendor does not

have

to pay sales tax to the city, but MUST le a sales tax

return

claiming the exempon.

See www.nola.gov/cultural-products-districts/ for more in-

formaon on the Cultural Products Districts or contact

specialevents@nola.gov.

SUPPLEMENT A (cont.)

TEMPORARY ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE OUTLET

LICENSES

File Supplement A if the event will be selling or giving

away alcoholic beverages.

The Temp. ABO can last a maxi-

mum of 3 consecuve days (by state law). Please note there

is a maximum cap of local Temp. ABOs for any enty of 12

per year.

Once you have applied for your local license, be

sure to write

down the permit number of your applicaon.

Next, acquire a State Temporary ABO License. Take your

New

Orleans permit number with you and apply a mini-

mum of 10

days in advance of your event. The ATC has

opened an oce

in New Orleans in Benson Tower, 1450

Poydras St., Ste. 850,

New Orleans, LA 70112.

SAMPLE VENDOR LIST & LICENSE

Vendor Business

Name

Contact Name Mailing Address City State Zip Code Phone Number Account Number

John’s Cras John Smith 123 Alphabet St. New Orleans LA 70116 504-555-5555 000000000

Jane’s Shirts Jane Brown 345 Number St. New Orleans LA 70116 504-555-5551 000000111

SAMPLE LICENSE WITH REQUIRED ACCOUNT NUMBER CIRCLED

SUPPLEMENT B

STREET CLOSURES

METER RENTALS

PARKING LANE RENTALS

If you are holding a block party, having parts of your

event

take place in the street, need to close o streets for

loading/unloading, rent parking spaces, or clear a street of

cars, you

need to ll out a Street Closure and Meter Rental

Applicaon.

Please note: this is not the applicaon for mov-

ing events such as parades, races, marathons, or second

lines. Fill out Supplement C for those types of moving

events.

File Supplement B for Non-Commercial Street Closure if the

event requires any kind of street space. If you need assis-

tance acquiring the permissions or approvals below, please

contact specialevents@nola.gov.

Other items needed for permit:



Supplement G: An addional (to NOPD required for

street closure) security detail is required for all street

closures related to block pares



Wrien agreement to relocate any taxi or carriage

stands, if any. Contact: Taxicab Bureau, 658-7170

SUPPLEMENT C

PARADES

MARATHONS, RACES

SECOND LINES

Supplement C is for any event that is both in the street

and mobile. If you need to clear cars from parking lanes, ei-

ther

metered or un-metered, you must also ll out Supple-

ment B

in addion to this applicaon.

File Supplement C if the event will involve the use of public

streets for a parade, jazz funeral, second line, race/

marathon,

or other mobile street event.

Other items needed for permit: A descripon of the

route,

which can include maps to aid in the descripon.

SUPPLEMENT D

PUBLIC PARKS

If you are holding your event in a public park, you will

need to ll out this form to secure your locaon. This appli-

caon

will allow you to reserve both Parks and Parkways

parks and New Orleans Recreaon Development Commis-

sion (NORDC) parks and facilies. A list of most commonly

requested

properes for each agency is at the top of Sup-

plement D for your reference.

Please note that some properes, parcularly the green

space

in Jackson Square, have more restricons on acvies

than

others. See Supplement D, page 2, for more infor-

maon.

Please note that Audubon Park, the Fly, Woldenberg Park,

and City Park are not managed or permied by the City.

Other items needed to complete this form:



Contract with clean-up company OR volunteer clean-up

plan, see form for more details



Proporons of any stages that will be assembled on-site



Proof of Insurance for any events on NORDC properes

SUPPLEMENT E

TENTS AND CANOPIES

Fill out this form if your event involves any sort of tent,

tarp,

canopy, or other cloth or arcial covering. ANY

TENT, OF

ANY SIZE, MUST BE INSPECTED AND/OR PER-

MITTED. EX

CEPTION: Umbrellas (single, central pole; diam-

eter of 8 . or

less) do not need to be inspected or per-

mied.

File Supplement E if tents of any size are used. Tents un-

der

120 sq. . are exempt from permits, but sll need an

inspecon. Tents over 120 sq. . in area (or larger than 10 .

by 10

.) must be permied by the Fire Department.

Other items needed for permit:



Cercate of Flame Resistance for tents (usually

sewn

into tent canopy or cercate included with pur-

chase of tent)



Plan Review showing locaon(s) of tent(s) with distanc-

es

to nearest buildings and seang chart if seang in-

cluded



For large events, include total number of tents and a

vendor list

SUPPLEMENT F

STAGES

REVIEWING STANDS

CONCESSION STANDS

BANNERS

ENTERTAINMENT AND SOUND

File Supplement F if the event requires construcng/using

the following temporary structures:

Reviewing Stands,

Stages, Concession Stands, Tents larger than 1000 sq. .

(approximately a 30 . by 30 . tent or larger).

Please

note

that tents require you to also ll out Supplement E.

Other items needed for permit (much of this informaon

may

be provided by the stage builders/contractors hired):



Approval/permission from property owner (see Event

Locaon Informaon)



Recorded Act of Sale if property recently changed

ownership



Plot plan showing boundaries of the property and loca-

on and dimensions any temporary structures on the

property with locaon and distance to nearest re

hydrant



For reviewing stands and stages you will need a

statement with a live seal from a Louisiana Registered

Architect or Civil Engineer stang that the structure,

stairs and landings t certain requirements



Signed statement from Louisiana Registered Architect

or Civil Engineer that the tent installaon is in com-

pliance with NFPA 102, Chapter 8

File Supplement F if the event requires

banners that

stretch across public property or rights-of-way such as

streets or

sidewalks.

Please note that some areas, such

as the French

Quarter, have restricons on temporary signs,

whether across

rights-of-way or on the fronts of private

buildings/on private

property visible from the street.

File Supplement F if your event is oering any sort of

en-

tertainment,

including, but not limited to:



Live performance (musical, theatrical, etc.)



PA system



DJ or recorded music



Sound ampliers

This does not apply to parades or second lines.

Please note that not all zones allow live outdoor enter-

tainment, such as residenal zoned properes.

SUPPLEMENT G

SPECIAL HAZARDS

SECURITY

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

Supplement G covers special hazards, Police or private se-

curity details, and Emergency Medical Services. Having

these hazards at your event will require you to hire securi-

ty, EMS,

and/or a re watch by Fire Department personnel.

Some

pricing for these services is available at the end of the

Guide.

The following Hazards REQUIRE you to le Supplement G:

You MUST le this Supplement if your event ts any one or

more of the following criteria:



Over 1,000 aendees (Both Police/Security Detail

and

Emergency Medical Services are needed)



Is a Block Party (Police Detail is required)



Lasers



Open Flame



Cooking



Heang Equipment



Compressed Gases



Flammable Liquids



Pyrotechnics/Special

Eects



Fog Generator



Vehicles/Motorcycles



Operang Internal

Combuson Engines



Mardi Gras/Parade

Floats



Mobile Homes



Tents, Canopies, Air-

Support Structures



Mul-Level or Covered

Booths

SUPPLEMENT H

FEE EXEMPTION FOR NON-PROFIT

ORGANIZERS

If the organizaon holding the event is a non-prot, fees

for

the Promoters/Organizers Occupaonal License,

Mayoralty

Permit, Sales Tax, and Temporary Alcoholic

Beverage Outlet

License can be waived. These licenses

and permits are applied for using Supplement A.

Both federal 501(c)3 and state non-prots qualify for

these

exempons. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS FORM

DOES NOT

EXEMPT NON-PROFITS FROM ANY OTHER

FEES NOT AS

SOCIATED WITH SUPPLEMENT A. The per-

ming departments no longer waive fees that are not

covered by this Ex

empon form.

Fill out Supplement H and aach a copy of the IRS leer

conrming the organizaon’s 501c3 status or a leer

from the

Louisiana Secretary of State.

Filing Supplement H does NOT guarantee a waiver.

SPECIAL EVENTS LICENSES &

PERMIT FEES*

*This is a general guide to fees; addional fees/service

charges may apply depending on the specics of your

event

LICENSE OR PERMIT BY CATEGORY UNIT COST TOTAL COST

ALCOHOL

Applicaon Processing $250.00

Beer Sales or Distribuon $135.00

Beer, Wine and/or Liquor Sales or Distribuon $500.00

PROMOTER

Occupaonal License $250.00

Mayoralty Permit $500.25

Sporng Event Mayoralty Permit $1,000.25

Performance Bond $10,000.00

Occupancy Permit $190.00

Plan Review $50.00

STREET CLOSURE

Per Block

CBD $310.00

French Quarter $615.00

Canal Street $615.00

Other Streets $90.00

Applicaon Fee $40.00

METER RENTAL

Service Charge for Construcon $45.00

Service Charge for Filming $20.00

Per Diem Charge

CBD $30.00

French Quarter $40.00

Canal Street $40.00

Other Streets $20.00

Applicaon Fee $40.00

PARADES

50 or less marchers with band $225.00

50-100 marchers with band, major street $425.00

50-100 marchers with band, all other streets $525.00

100-500 marchers with jazz band $652.00

100-500 marchers with high school band $725.00

LICENSE OR PERMIT BY CATEGORY UNIT COST TOTAL COST

TENTS AND CANOPIES

Per Tent, 0-10,000 sq. . $50.00

SIGNS AND LIGHT EFFECTS

Banner $100.00

Exterior laser, sky tracker, searchlight $25.00

TEMPORARY STRUCTURES

Reviewing Stand

Private Property Residenal District $50.00

Private Property Non-Historic Commercial $150.00

Private Property Historic Commercial $225.00

Public Property CBD $150.00

Concession Stand

Private Property Non-Historic Districts $150.00

Private Property Historic Districts $225.00

Non-Prot Property $25.00

Stage $190.00

Tent over 1,000 sq. . $190.00

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

Ambulance per hour 4 hour minimum $150.00 $600.00

Addional Crew per hour $75.00 $300.00

Supervisor per hour (4 or more units) $75.00 $300.00

Miniature Ambulance per hour 4 hour minimum $100.00 $400.00

Sprint Car per hour $75.00

Addional Medic per hour $100.00

EMS Physician per hour $100.00

Bike Team per hour 4 hour minimum $100.00 $400.00

Supervisor per hour (4 or more units) $75.00 $300.00

Mobile Surge Unit per hour 4 hour minimum $300.00 $1,200.00

Addional Medic per hour $75.00 $300.00

EMS Physician per hour $100.00 $400.00

SPECIAL EVENT APPLICATIONS INDEX



Master Applicaon



Supplement A:



Promoter/Organizers Permits and Licenses



Vendor License



Temporary Alcoholic Beverage Outlet License



Supplement B:



Street Closures



Meter Rentals



Parking Lane Rentals



Supplement C:



Parades, Second Lines, Races, Marathons



Supplement D:



Park Bookings: Parks and Parkways, NORDC parks



Supplement E:



Tents, Canopies, Booths



Supplement F:



Banners



Stages, Reviewing Stands, Concession Stands



Entertainment



Supplement G:



Safety Hazards (cooking, reworks, open ames, ammables)



Security/Police Details



Emergency Medical Services



Supplement H:



Non-Prot Organizer Tax Exempon Form

CREDITS

GUIDE AND FORMS

Many City departments and event organizers contributed

to

the creaon of this Guide and permit applicaons.

Alison Gavrell, Guide Text and Design, Project Manager,

Mayor’s Oce of Cultural Economy

Jennifer Cecil, Forms, Eding and LAMA, Performance

Manager, One Stop Shop

Whitney Soenksen, Forms and Eding, Innovaon Delivery

Team

Linda Suon, Eding, Chief of Sta for Deputy Mayor for

Operaons

Xavier Cabo, Eding and Website, Project Manager,

Innovaon Delivery Team

Jasmine Gosse, Eding, Mayor’s Oce of

Communicaons Press Assistant

Special thanks to:

Bureau of Revenue Department of Public Works

New Orleans Police Department Parks and Parkways

New Orleans Recreaon Development Commission New

Orleans Fire Department

Safety and Permits

Emergency Medical Services

Oce of Homeland Security and Emergency

Preparedness

Informaon Technology and Innovaon

PHOTO CREDITS

Cover:



Second Line Parade, Photo by Jay Combe, Courtesy

of

the Convenon and Visitors Bureau



Mardi Gras Parade on St. Charles Avenue, Photo by

Pat

Garin, Courtesy of the Convenon and Visitors Bureau



Jackson Square at French Quarter Fest, Photo by Jay

Combe, Courtesy of the Convenon and Visitors

Bureau

Introducon:



Jackson Square Art Colony, Photo by Pat Garin,

Courtesy of the Convenon and Visitors Bureau

CREDITS (cont.)

Overview:



Brass Band in Jackson Square, Photo by Jen Amato,

Courtesy of the Convenon and Visitors Bureau

Master Applicaon:



French Quarter Fesval in Jackson Square, Photo by

Margot Landon, Courtesy of French Quarter

Fesvals, Inc.

Supplement A:



Food Stands at the Jazz and Heritage Fesval,

Photo

by Jay Combe, Courtesy of the Convenon

and Visitors Bureau

Supplement B:



Dancing at Dusk, Photo by George Long, Courtesy of

French Quarter Fesvals, Inc.

Supplement C:



Mardi Gras Parade, Photo by Chris Granger, Courtesy

of the Convenon and Visitors Bureau

Supplement D:



City Park, Photo by Jay Combe, Courtesy of the

Convenon and Visitors Bureau

Supplement F:



Cirque Beserque at Fringe Fest 2011, Photo by Janet

Wilson, Courtesy of Fringe Fest

Supplement G:



French Quarter Fesval, Photo by Jay Combe,

Courtesy of the Convenon and Visitors Bureau

Supplement H:



Cajun Zydeco Fesval performance. Photo credit:

Cheryl Gerber, Courtesy of the New Orleans

Convenon and Visitors Bureau