Special or Temporary Events

Northern Nevada, known for our community gatherings, hosts a considerable variety of public events. Events in unincorporated Washoe County require approval from local public safety agencies to ensure a safe event for all attendees. Approval is received by permitting temporary events.

In unincorporated Washoe County Temporary Event Permit equates with a Special Event Business License. The Business License Team is available to help you obtain your temporary event permit and answer questions businesslicense@washoecounty.gov.

Washoe County categorizes special events by the number of people attending daily. The categories include special events, outdoor community events, and outdoor festivals. The larger the event, the greater the need for an extensive review. Applications for the events with 100 or more attendees are submitted earlier to ensure proper review prior to the initial event date.

Below is information on the submission process for each event type. Please feel free to contact our team for more support at businesslicense@washoecounty.gov.

Booth Fees
Temporary event licensees typically provide (rent) booths to vendors during the event. Washoe County does not require each separate vendor to obtain a temporary event license but charge the overall event promoter the appropriate booth fee based on the number of vendor booths. Promoters must disclose the number of vendor booths and the sales/services offered by each vendor as part of the temporary license application.

Special Events

Washoe County Special Event (temporary sales or services) licenses are issued for events with fewer than 100 people per day unless held on Federal, State, trust, or tribal lands. Applications must be submitted no later than 30 days prior to the event. Burning Man Vendors must submit the application no later than 60 days prior to the first day of sales/services.

The license fee for a temporary sales or service license is $65 plus any booth fees, if applicable. If intoxicating liquor is proposed to be served, a separate temporary intoxicating liquor license application is required. The temporary intoxicating liquor license fee is $127 and will not be issued until after the approval and issuance of the temporary sales or services license. License applications will be routed to other public agencies for review and approval.

All special event licenses are valid for a maximum of 31 days in a calendar year. Event dates must be included as part of the application. An approved special event will be issued a temporary sales or services business license.
Special Event Application
Burning Man Vendors Application

Outdoor Community Events

Outdoor Community Event licenses are issued for one-time events with 100 to 999 people on any one day of the event unless located in a Washoe County park or held on Federal, State, trust, or tribal lands. An outdoor community event license is not required if the event is to be conducted inside a permanent building or permanent installation constructed to accommodate the number of people. Applications must be submitted no later than 90 days prior to the event. Event dates must be included as part of the application.

There is a $50 non-refundable application fee plus an event fee of $350 per day. Additional booth fees will be charged, if applicable. If intoxicating liquor is proposed to be served a separate temporary intoxicating liquor license application is required. The temporary intoxicating liquor license fee is $127 and will not be issued until after the approval and issuance of the temporary sales or services license. License applications will be routed to other public agencies for review and approval. All events must meet land use/regulatory zone requirements before the license will be issued. For information on land use/regulatory zone requirements, call 775.328.6100 with the parcel number(s) of the event.

Events with between 100 and 299 people on any one day of the event. These events require an outdoor community event license only. The Director of the Planning and Development Division shall approve, approve with conditions, or deny the license.
Events with between 300 and 999 people on any one day of the event. These events shall obtain both an outdoor community event license and an administrative permit from Washoe County Community Services Department. The license application suffices for the administrative permit application and no additional fees are required for filing the administrative permit application. The Board of Adjustment shall approve, approve with conditions, or deny the license and permit.

An outdoor community event license is valid for the duration of the event.
Outdoor Community Event License Application

Outdoor Festivals

Outdoor Festival licenses are issued for one-time events with 1,000 or more people on any one day of the event unless located in a Washoe County park or held on a Federal, State, trust, or tribal lands. An outdoor festival license is not required if the event is to be conducted inside a permanent building or permanent installation constructed to accommodate the number of people. Applications must be submitted no later than 90 days prior to the event. Event dates must be included as part of the application.

There is a $1,000 non-refundable application fee plus an event fee of $350 per day. If intoxicating liquor is proposed to be served, as separate temporary intoxicating liquor license application is required. The temporary intoxicating liquor license fee is $127 and will not be issued until after the approval and issuance of the temporary sales or services license. License applications will be routed to other public agencies for review and approval. All events must meet land use/regulatory zone requirements before the license will be issued. For information on land use/regulatory zone requirements, call 775.328.6100 with the parcel number(s) of the event.

Applicants require a criminal history background investigation to determine if there are criminal convictions which would disqualify an applicant from receiving the license. All outdoor festival applications are reviewed by the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners. The Board may approve, approve with conditions, or deny the license.
An outdoor festival license is valid for the duration of the event.
Outdoor Festival Application