What is Street Use Permit? || Application Procedure || Site & Route Plan || Safety & Security Plan || Notification Requirements || Certification of Insurance || Other City Permits       

Special Event Organizers - It is VERY important that you read ALL of the following BEFORE calling.  

In order to have a special event on any Madison Street, including State Street, you must have a Street Use Permit. The following Street Use Permit instructions and application were designed to help assist you, the Event Organizer, plan a safe and enjoyable event.
    Please be aware that there are different government agencies with differing regulations along State Street (see map). It is vital that you, the Event Organizer, obtain all of the appropriate permits for your event.

What is a Street Use Permit and When is One Required?
A Street Use Permit is the required permit that allows private individuals, or groups (both for-profit and non-profit) to use public space for an event. A Street Use Permit is required if any of the following apply to your proposed event:
¨ The event is for a full day or multiple days. (Cultural Festivals, Information Fairs, Fundraising Events)
¨ Your event will include sale of merchandise, food, beverages, etc.
¨ The event is scheduled on 700/800 State Street AND is outside the time periods allowed with an amplification permit (see State Street Amplification Permit information).

Street Use Permit Application Procedure
1. Complete the Street Use Permit Application
2. With the completed application, include a map of the set up of the event including the location of exhibits, displays, performers, etc. and the details of equipment and electrical needs.
3. A detailed map of the route if the street closure is for a run, walk, parade or other "moving activity".
4. A complete event schedule, including time for set up and tear down of event.
5.  A plan to notify area residents, merchants, alders about the event - i.e. bring copies of the flyer or brochure to be distributed.
6. If you are planning on having any of the following activities as a part of your event, additional permits are required:
          Sale of food and/or beverages - Temporary Restaurant License  (City Clerk Office)
          Sale of alcoholic beverages - Class "B" Picnic Beer Permit (City Clerk Office)
          Sale of Merchandise - Special Event Vendor's License (City Clerk Office)
          Walk, run, march, parade - Parade Permit (Madison Police Dept)

7. Submit the completed application including the maps, additional city permits schedules, the Signature Petition (if required) and the non-refundable application fee of $50 for one-time events or $150 for serial events at least 30 days prior to your event (unless Exclusive Use Resolution is required), to:
City Clerk Office / 210 MLK Jr. Blvd., Rm. 103 / Madison, WI 53703

8. The application is reviewed by the Street Use Staff Team at a bi-weekly meeting. Event Organizers may be required to attend the meeting when the application is reviewed. City Staff will contact you if your attendance is required. At the time of the meeting, you will be informed of the conditions of your permit and any additional fees for your requested or necessary equipment and provided services.

9. IF/WHEN the application is approved, a street use permit will be issued to the Event Organizer. The Street Use Permit will list the date, time and location of the street closures, as well as any conditions for the event.

Site & Route Plan
To ensure proper review of your event, please attach a site and route plan (if applicable). These site and route plans may be blueprints, CAD drawings, or legible sketches.
   Site and route plans should include, but are not limited to, the following information: location of tents, stages, fencing, vendors, portable toilets, beer gardens, dumpsters, placement of vehicles, exit location for outdoor events that are fenced, clear signage, accessible paths for wheelchairs as well as ample disabled parking, and any other related event components not listed above.
    Please feel free to include a narrative of the event with the site and route plan.

Safety and Security Plan
As an Event Organizer, you are required to provide a safe and secure environment for your event. This is accomplished through sound planning. The Safety and Security Plan should include, but is not limited to the hiring of private security companies and licensed professional emergency medical services, crowd control, venue safety, communication plan in case of an emergency, etc. These plans will be reviewed at the Street Use Meeting by City of Madison Police and Fire Department representatives who may make additional recommendations.

Notification Requirements
   Large Public Events of three (3) or more blocks, 10,000 or more estimated attendees and any event requiring bus detours or significant traffic rerouting shall send a copy of the street use permit application to the alderperson(s) of the aldermanic district(s) where the street closure is requested and to the area neighborhood association within five(5) days of filing the application.
   In addition, the Event Organizer shall provide written notice of the event to each occupant on the street(s) to be closed, prior to the event. The notification shall include contact information for the Event Organizer. The purpose of the notification shall be to exchange information and receive public comment about the details of the event. The Event Organizer shall keep a record of all public comments and provide them at the Street Use Staff Team meeting when the application is reviewed. If a Street Use Permit is granted, the Event Organizer shall also promptly notify any merchants or building occupants identified by the Street Use Staff Team. The Event Organizer shall provide the Staff Team a copy of the written notice(s).

Certification of Insurance
Please note that insurance requirements depend upon the risk level of the event. If your event will include selling alcohol, vending, run/walk component, fireworks, and/or the attendance is expected to exceed 300 people, the City of Madison may require a "Certificate of Insurance" from your or your parent organization's insurance company. As the Event Organizer, you shall submit a general liability insurance policy certificate in the amount of $1,000,000 naming the City of Madison and its Parks Division as an Additional Insured Party. The City of Madison Risk Manager must receive this certificate 30 days prior to the event date. This official certificate may be mailed or faxed. City Risk Manager, 210 MLK JR. Blvd, Rm 406, Madison, WI 53703; Phone (608)266-5965; Fax (608)267-8705.

Other City Permits
The Event Organizer is responsible for obtaining all permits that the City of Madison requires for special events. You must include all pertinent information before this application will be reviewed by staff. Please indicate which permits you will need:
¨ Special Event Vendors License- If vendors will be selling merchandise at your event, you must have a Special Event Vending License. This is different than a vending license for a park. After you receive approval for your Street Use Permit, you will need to contact the City Clerk Office to request an application. On the application you will need to list each of your vendors and their State of WI Tax ID # (a.k.a. State Sellers Permit #). The fee for this license is dependent on the number of vendors at your event: 1-50 vendors $100.00, 51-200 vendors $200.00, or
over 201 vendors $300.00
¨ Temporary Restaurant Permit - required if food or beverages, other than prepackaged items, will be sold or served at the event. To obtain application and permit, contact the City Clerk's Office, 266-4601.
¨ Parade Permit - may be required of a run, walk or bike ride event. Contact the Madison Police Department or submit application via their website at www.cityofmadison.com/police.
¨ Temporary Class "B" Retailers License - required if your event will be selling beer/alcohol. To obtain application and permit, contact the City Clerk's Office, 266-4601.
¨ Fireworks Permit - From the Fire Dept., 266-4457 or on-line: www.cityofmadison.com/fire
¨ Tents and Canopies Permit - From the First Dept., 266-4457 or on-line:  www.cityofmadison.com/fire