Parks Department - New Emergency Rule for Special Event Permitting

 

Greetings, community partners and happy spring! As many of you begin planning for the busy summer season, we wanted to make sure that you saw the information below about a recent emergency rule change related to special event permitting for large events (see below press announcement from NYC Parks). Please feel free to pass it along to the person in your group who handles permits and event planning. The rules will also be posted on NYC Parks’ public website at Rules & Regulations : NYC Parks.  If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to the NYC Parks permit office that handles your permit applications or your community engagement coordinator. Thanks, and we look forward to seeing you in the parks!

Tricia Shimamura Commissioner, NYC Parks NYC PARKS ANNOUNCES NEW EMERGENCY RULE FOR SPECIAL EVENT PERMITTING DURING SUMMER 2026 Due to volume of events associated with FIFA World Cup and the U.S. 250th anniversary, certain new Parks permit applications may be denied between June 11 and July 19, 2026.  NYC Parks today announced that it has enacted an emergency rule related to special event permitting, to ensure efficient deployment of police resources and public safety during the busy summer 2026 season.  Each year, Parks issues permits for large-scale special events occurring in parks and other properties that may include the continued use of a particular site over several days; the construction of stages and other structures; the vending of food, apparel, and other goods; the use of amplified sound; and the performance of music. To ensure public safety for many of these events, particularly those that anticipate large crowds, members of the NYPD must be on site.  This year, New York City will be hosting events associated with the FIFA World Cup from June 11 through July 19, which also overlaps with planned celebrations for the United States' 250th anniversary from July 1 through July 9. The events associated with the FIFA World Cup and the United States' 250th anniversary will require significant realignment and deployment of city personnel. To more effectively deploy city resources and control overtime costs, the Parks Department may deny certain permit applications for new events between June 11, 2026, and July 19, 2026. Parks has adopted an emergency rule to authorize the denial of permit applications for special events on property under Parks jurisdiction during this period if:  (i) the event was not held in the 2025 calendar year;   (ii) the event is not a demonstration; and   (iii) the Commissioner determines, in consultation with NYPD, that the agencies do not have sufficient resources to ensure public safety and welfare at and around such events.  Events that previously received permits in calendar year 2025, demonstrations, smaller events that do not require a police presence, and events proposed on dates prior to June 11, 2026 or after July 19, 2026 are not affected by this rule.  Parks' authority for these rules is found in Sections 389, 533(a)(9), and I 043 of the New York City Charter.  The emergency rule will be available for review at rules.cityofnewyork.us and can be downloaded here.