1. Decide if you need a Special Event Permit.
   • Your event is on City or public property (parks, streets, sidewalks), or
   • You expect 100 or more people, or
   • You will have tents, stages, fencing, rides, inflatables, portable toilets, amplified sound, or similar features, or
   • You will sell goods or services, collect donations, or serve food or alcohol, or
   • Your event on private property will cause significantly more traffic or other impacts to the neighborhood.

   If you are unsure, see “When You Need a Special Event Permit” for more detail.

2. Gather your information and documents.
   • Event name, description, dates, and times
   • Expected attendance (per day if multi-day)
   • Organizer and on-site contact information
   • Preliminary site plan (and route map for parades, races, or marches)
   • Details about food, beverages, alcohol, vendors, and activities
   • Traffic control, parking, sanitation, and emergency access plans
   • Insurance, other permits, and licenses if needed
3. Submit your application.
   • Complete the Special Event Application Form
   • Pay the application fee (see “Fees and Deadlines”)
   • Upload or attach all required plans and documents
4. Watch for review updates.
   • The Events Manager checks your application for completeness
   • The Special Event Approval Team reviews safety, traffic, and other impacts
   • You may receive a checklist of missing items or requested changes
   • Once everything is complete, the team approves or denies the permit

Events on City or public property

You will usually need a Special Event Permit if your event:

• Uses City property such as parks, trails, roads, or sidewalks
• Temporarily blocks or changes how the public uses streets, sidewalks, or parking areas
• Requires City staff, equipment, or services
• Includes features such as tents, stages, inflatables, generators, or amplified sound

Events on private property

Events held only on private residential or commercial property usually do not need a Special Event Permit, unless they:

• Cause significantly increased traffic in the area, or
• Create other impacts or safety concerns for neighbors or public streets.

Even if a Special Event Permit is not required, some parts of the event (such as food service, fireworks, or alcohol service) may still require their own permits from the City or other agencies.

Herriman City Code (§7-7-3) defines a Special Event as an organized activity (athletic, entertainment, outdoor sales, political, nonprofit, charitable, etc.) that:

• Is conducted on public streets or property, and
• Is expected to attract 100 or more people.

An event will likely require a Special Event Permit if it includes one or more of the following:

• Tents or canopies
• Stages, grandstands, or bleachers
• Temporary fencing or boundary markers
• Amusement rides or inflatables (such as bounce houses)
• Portable toilets or hand-washing stations
• Amplified sound (music, announcements, or PA systems)
• Food or beverage service, including alcohol
• Sale of goods or services
• Fundraising or collecting donations

Examples of Special Events

• Parades
• Races or distance events (bike, run, walk, swim)
• Fireworks displays
• Outdoor concerts
• Festivals or carnivals
• Charity fundraisers
• Cultural or religious celebrations
• Company parties or picnics
• Neighborhood block parties or large community gatherings

Many events need additional permits from other agencies. Common examples include:

Activity or requirement	Typical agency
Temporary food event permits	Salt Lake County Health Department
Mass gatherings (large crowds, multiple days)	Salt Lake County
Fireworks or pyrotechnics permits	Unified Fire Authority, Utah State Fire Marshal
Alcohol service (temporary alcohol license)	Utah Division of Alcoholic Beverage Services
Inflatable ride inspections	State regulatory agencies (such as Utah Labor Commission)
Sales tax ID or temporary business license	Utah State Tax Commission and Herriman City Licensing

The Events Manager can help you identify which agencies you may need to contact, but organizers are responsible for obtaining these outside permits.

The City reviews each application to make sure events are safe, fair, and compatible with public spaces and other activities.

1. Application submitted

• You submit a complete Special Event Application Form
• You pay the application fee
• You provide required plans and documents (see “What You Need to Apply”)

2. Initial review by Events Manager

• The Events Manager checks whether the event meets the basic requirements
• Ensures the application includes required information and attachments

3. Special Event Approval Team review

• The Special Event Approval Team reviews your application
• They look at safety, traffic, parking, emergency access, and impacts on nearby residents and other City operations
• They may ask for more information or changes to your plan

4. Checklist and follow-up

• The Events Manager sends you a checklist of any missing items, documents, or payments needed before a permit can be issued

5. Final review and decision

• Once all checklist items are satisfied, the application goes back to the Special Event Approval Team
• The team gives final approval or denial of the permit
• You are notified of the decision and any conditions of approval

Having your information ready before you apply can help you avoid delays and reduce the chance of an incomplete or denied application.

Event details

• Event name and a brief description
• Reasonably expected attendance (list per day if the event is held on multiple days)
• Reasonably expected number of volunteers or event staff

Dates, times, and contacts

• Event date(s) and time(s)
• Contact information for the event organizer
• On-site contact information (person responsible during the event)

Site plan and route map

Provide a preliminary site plan (and later a final site plan) showing how your event will be set up. If your event involves a route (such as a parade, march, or race), a route map is also required.

Maps may be digital or hand-drawn, as long as they are clear, readable, and include the required details.

Site plan checklist

Include all items that apply to your event:

• Entrances and exits
• Barricades and cones in and around the event space
• Food, merchant, or sponsor booths
• Bar area (where alcohol will be served)
• Fencing and boundaries
• Stages, music areas, DJs or bands
• Signage
• Restrooms and hand-washing stations
• Tables and chairs
• Food trucks
• Amusements, including bounce houses and rides
• Animals (petting areas, pony rides, etc.)
• Trash receptacles and dumpsters
• Parking stalls, including accessible (handicapped) parking
• Drop-off and pick-up areas
• Event information and lost-and-found booths
• Generators and power sources
• Pyrotechnics display and launch areas
• Balloon launch areas
• First aid station(s)

Not every event will include all of these items. The more detailed your site plan, the fewer questions and delays you will experience during review.

Example site plan

Route map checklist (for races, parades, marches, etc.)

If your event covers multiple streets or paths, your route map should show:

• Start and finish locations
• Arrows showing the direction of travel
• Signage, including directional signs for participants
• Water, rest, and first aid stations
• Parking and drop-off/pick-up locations
• Trash receptacles along the route or at key locations

Event operations

• List of planned activities
• Details about food, beverage, or alcohol service (including any separate permits)
• Letters or signatures from neighbors if street closures will directly affect them

Logistics and City services

• List of City services requested (such as electricity, water, stage, or other equipment)
• Plans for emergency vehicle access and staging
• Traffic control plan
• Parking plan
• Sanitation and waste management plan

Additional documentation

• Special event sales tax identification number and temporary City business license if you will sell goods or services at the event
• Copies of any other required permits from federal, state, or county agencies (including Salt Lake County’s mass gathering permit if applicable)
• Proof of liability insurance:
  • At least $1,000,000 per occurrence, and
  • $2,000,000 general aggregate coverage

Application fee

• The application fee is non-refundable and is required before your application will be reviewed.
• $100 if paid more than 60 days before the event
• $200 if paid 60 days or fewer before the event

Application filing deadlines

• For events with fewer than 100 people: apply at least 45 days before the event
• For events with 100 or more people: apply at least 90 days before the event
• Late applications (filed after these deadlines) will be charged an additional $100 late fee
• Your application is not considered complete until the fee is paid and all required plans and documents are received by the Events Manager
• Even if your event happens every year, a new application and documentation must be submitted each year

Typical City-related event costs

The following are common City-related costs. Exact amounts may change over time; contact the Events Department at events@herriman.gov for current rates.

Fee type	Description	Amount / estimate
Special event permit application	Non-refundable fee for processing your application; required for approval or denial of the permit	$100 if paid more than 60 days before the event $200 if paid 60 days or fewer before the event
Park/facility rental	Use of City-owned parks, fields, or facilities	Varies by location and rental type
Police/security	Herriman City Police Department determines how many officers (if any) are required, based on event details; 4-hour minimum	Estimated $85 per officer per hour* *Actual rate depends on each officer’s overtime rate and hours worked.
Emergency medical services (EMS)	On-site EMS coverage if required for your event	Varies; details provided during review
Site restoration fee for trail use	Required when events use City-owned trails and cleanup or restoration is needed	Varies based on impact
Park/event staff	City staff support for event setup, monitoring, or cleanup; 4-hour minimum; may include truck or golf cart	$35 per hour per employee + equipment fee
Fireworks and pyrotechnics permits	Permits and inspections related to fireworks or pyrotechnic displays	Varies; coordinate with Unified Fire Authority and City staff

Common non-City costs

Events may also need services from private companies and other agencies, such as:

• Barricade and cone rentals (type III barricades are required for certain street closures)
• Portable restrooms and hand-washing stations (especially at locations with limited permanent facilities)
• Event insurance coverage and certificates of insurance
• Temporary alcohol licenses from the State of Utah
• Generators for powering food trucks, bounce houses, lighting, and sound equipment

A Special Event Permit application may be denied if any of the following apply:

The application is not fully completed or fails to comply with the City requirements for the application process 

The permit application contains misrepresentations 

The applicant is legally incompetent to contract, to sue, and to be sued. 

The applicant or any person on whose behalf the permit application was made has on prior occasions: 

• Damaged City property and has not paid in full for such damage, or has other outstanding and unpaid debts to the City 
• Made material misrepresentations regarding the nature or scope of an event or activity previously permitted 
• Had violated the terms of prior permits issued to or on behalf of the applicant 
• Has held a special event in another jurisdiction that did not comply with the jurisdiction's permit or ordinance requirements. 
The use or activity intended by the applicant is prohibited by the provisions of City ordinances, regulations of the city, or otherwise prohibited by law. 

The conduct of the special event will substantially interrupt the safe and orderly movement of the pedestrian or vehicular traffic contiguous to its route or location, unreasonably limit or obstruct access to private property, or unduly interfere with proper fire and police protection of, or ambulance service to, areas contiguous to such public assembly areas.  

The proposed event will unreasonably interfere with or obstruct the public’s ability to use public property for activities unrelated to the event 

The conduct of the special event will require the diversion of so great a number of city police officers to properly police the line of movement and the areas contiguous thereto as to prevent normal police protection of the city.  

The conduct of the special event is reasonably likely to cause injury to persons or property 

The event location has outstanding building or zoning code violations, or any structures used for the event were built without a permit. 

Adequate sanitation and other required health facilities are not, or will not be, available in or adjacent to any special event area 

There are insufficient parking spaces near the special event site to accommodate the number of vehicles reasonably expected. 

A City event is scheduled for the same time and location 

A special event permit application for the same time and location has already been granted or will be granted. 

An event is scheduled elsewhere in the city for which the required police resources are so great that the deployment of police services for the proposed special event would have an immediate and adverse effect on the welfare and safety of persons and property. 

The special event permit application was filed after the required filing deadlines. 

The applicant failed to obtain a special event permit for a previous event that was required to have a special event permit. 

The event will violate City code. 

The Events Manager may also deny a permit if the event is expected to negatively affect public health, safety, or welfare.

This guide is intended to help you understand when a Special Event Permit is required and how to prepare a complete application.

If you have questions or need help at any point in the process, please contact the Herriman City Events Department.