Planning a party or gathering? A permit will be needed if:
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you are putting up a cooking tent OR;
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you are putting up a tent or canopy that is 400 square feet, or larger
Permit Requirements and Application(PDF, 437KB)
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
• Smoking, cooking, or use of open flames in the tent shall not be permitted. If cooking is to be used, a separate dedicated cooking tent operation shall be used. Additional requirements shall apply.
• Exits, with a minimum width of 6 feet, shall be provided and kept clear at all times. The number of exits shall be determined by the occupant load and Table 3103.12.2.
• Hay, straw, shavings, or similar combustible materials shall not be located within any tent or air-supported structure.
• Combustible vegetation shall be removed from the area occupied by a tent, canopy, or membrane structure, and kept 30-feet away from such structures.
• The floor surface inside tents, canopies, or membrane structures, and the grounds outside and within a 30-foot perimeter shall be kept clear of combustible waste.
• A crowd manager may be required for larger events, where the total number of attendees exceeds 1,000, or when determined by the Fire Marshal.
• The minimum number of crowd managers shall be established at a ratio of 1 for every 250 persons.
Distance Requirements
• Minimum of a 20-foot clear width shall be provided around the tent and shall be no closer than 20 feet. to lot lines, buildings, other temporary structures, or vehicles. Support ropes and guy wires are not included.
• Minimum of a 10-foot clearance shall be provided to adjacent mobile food vending units.
• Minimum of a 20-foot clearance shall be provided to generators or other internal combustion power sources and must be isolated from contact with the public by fencing or other approved means.
• Generator fueling must be conducted in an approved location and away from the public.
• Shall remain clear of fire lanes and not block any fire apparatus.
Fire Protection
• A minimum of one 2A-10BC fire extinguisher shall be provided for each tent less than 3,000 sq. ft. or less than 75 ft. across.
• Extinguishers shall be maintained and serviced annually (as denoted by a currently dated tag attached to the extinguisher).
• All tents, canopies, or membrane structures shall have a permanently affixed label according to Section 3104.3.
Signage Requirements
• Approved “NO SMOKING” signs shall be posted.
• Exit signs shall be self-luminous or shall be internally, or externally, illuminated.
Cooking Tents
• Warming of foods, and similar operations, using solid flammables or other similar devices that do not pose a fire hazard, shall be permitted.
• Cooking and heating equipment shall not be located within 10 feet of an exit.
• LP-gas containers (Propane) shall not be located within the tent and shall be a minimum of 10 feet from all tents, canopies or membrane structures.
• Flammable or combustible liquids shall not be located within a tent, canopy or membrane structure, and shall be located a minimum of 50 feet away.
Propane
• Fryers must be placed at the rear of the tent, on a stable platform, and as far away from the public as possible.
• A Class K Extinguisher is required in addition to a 2A10BC Extinguisher.
• Spare propane cylinders, whether empty or full, must NOT be stored in the vendor area.
• All propane must be at least 10ft. from any tent and properly secured so they do not tip over.
• Pressure relief valves are required to face away from the tent, combustibles, and/or other ignition sources.
• Tent walls, combustibles, and/or storage items must be three feet from any open flame cooking appliance.
Grill and Pits
• Grilling with charcoal or wood is NOT allowed under or within 20 feet of any tented structure.
• A 2A10BC extinguisher is required for each grill.