The Lynwood City Council voted to adopt a new special event permit policy. The city of Lynwood is the site of many special events, big and small, during the year. The revised Special Event Permit process applies to private, independent party-led event applications.
The new policy, which states that special event applications be submitted to the city a minimum of five (5) months before the planned date, is designed to ensure that the city will have successful and safe events. An added benefit is that an organization can start the application process going up to a full year before the event to avoid booking conflicts.
The reason for the new policy is simple.
“We want to make sure that adequate time is given to ensure the health, safety, well-being, and enjoyment of the community residents and businesses at a special event,” said Gabriel Linares, the city of Lynwood Community Development Director.
A Special Event Permit will be required if the proposed event meets any of the following criteria:
- Any event that requires the closure of any street or public right of way to vehicular or pedestrian traffic. These would include fairs, festivals, any type of athletic event such as a 5k, bicycle race, or walking event.
- Any event to be held at a public facility with a projected attendance of 500 or more.
- Any event that will generate any outdoor video or sound.
- Any event that will require the use of city resources for security, crowd control, sanitation, etc.
The city recognizes that there may be special events with unique alterations to time standards and the city staff and city manager will review these “special circumstances” that could result in time submission requirement being reduced to no less than three months.
Also, organizations who have events that are currently in the applications process will still have their applications considered.