Decide which public space
In New York City, there are several different kinds of public spaces in which community members are able to legally organize events. The processes of permitting and use vary by the the size of your event, the type of space, and the type of permit. They also vary by the space itself which might have its own requirements depending on where it is and who is closest to it.
Remember
There are separate permit if you need amplified sound or food.
The permit is not likely the totality of fees! For example, to have the event, the reviewer may require you to have separate insurance.
The bigger your event is, the more questions will be asked and the earlier you should submit your application. (For example, Street Works — equivalent to 2 blocks — aims to submit ~5 months in advance, even if we might not hear from reviewers until later).
Decide on your shortlist of spaces before you look into permitting. It is best to not walk into the process before having your site narrowed to a priority and few backups.
Know exactly which 20-foot area is the center of your event and visit it before you submit.
Public Parks: Special event permits
*These details are for special event permits. If you're looking to organize another kind of event, like a tennis game or film shoot, click here.
Permitting run by: Parks Department
Standard fee: $25 (assumes your event is not meant to earn money, like a family gathering or a community event. If you are looking to earn money, see details on the Parks site.)
Approval time: ~30 days
Contact the Citywide Special Events Office for large-scale events (over 500 people) or events for promotional/commercial purposes at (212) 360-1319.
Permits aren’t available for most major holidays.
Process recommendation: Whether you end up submitting or not, create an account to get behind the scenes.
Plazas
Permitting run by: DOT/ Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO)
Standard fee: $25 (assumes your event is not meant to earn money, like a no-profit community event. If you are looking to earn money, see details on the SAPO site.)
Approval time: Up to 60 days, depending on the size
To get behind the scenes: Create an account
Plazas are permanent community gathering spots that used to be streets. Sometimes they are in the middle of the street. Sometimes, they look kind of like parks. The DOT uses their own language to classify plazas by size and event type. We recommend looking for the plaza by borough and knowing exactly what type of event you want to have before navigating their permit options.
Plazas are typically run with a community partner. You should always try to get to know the community partner before submitting a permit; they might submit for you, already have permits in place, or have other limitations. We strongly recommend you introduce yourself, learn about their programs, and take their needs & priorities into consideration in your design. If you have trouble reaching them and the DOT is unable to help, Street Works might be able to help.
Open streets
Permitting run by: DOT / Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO)
Standard fee: $25 (assumes your event is not meant to earn money, like a no-profit community event. If you are looking to earn money, see details on the SAPO site.)
Approval time: ~20-90 days, depending on the size
To get behind the scenes: Create an account
Open Streets are temporary or semi-permanent street closures meant for community gathering, created during the 2020 COVID pandemic. They’re run by the Department of Transportation (DOT).
As of Jan 2025, Open Streets are run through a community partner. You may not be able to apply on your own, and it might not be obvious which permit to apply to. We strongly recommend you introduce yourself to the community partner, learn about their programs many months in advance, and take their needs & priorities into consideration in your design. If you have trouble reaching them and the DOT is unable to help, Street Works might be able to. If you’d like to organize event on 34 Avenue in Jackson Heights, Queens, we’re happy to help.
What Else?
Applicants can work with the city to close active streets, from one block to many blocks! Because we focus on small arts collectives and artists who aspire to work in public space, we don’t going to go into those details here yet; they require more planning and resources than most small organizations, including Street Works, can sustain.
Also, the Open Streets program has gone a long way to enabling the kinds of events that used to require a full street closure. Although the process is still imperfect, it is a major step.
