Special Event Permits

Each year, a number of events drawing thousands of people take place in Lynwood. The City of Lynwood knows how important it is to coordinate a successful special event. Regardless of the scale of your event, the City wants to provide you with VIP treatment when it comes to helping you obtain your permit.

Special events that provide a benefit to the community are welcomed and encouraged. The planning process for a special event may involve the participation of several departments and outside agencies to ensure the health, safety, well-being, and enjoyment of the community residents and businesses.

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.

In addition to submitting a complete Special Event Permit Application (PDF), you will also need submit:

  • An Indemnity Form (PDF)
  • Detailed site plan (showing the setup of the event)
  • Traffic circulation plan
  • Parking plan
  • Proof of insurance for the event
  • Approval of the event by the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (if applicable)

Once all information is received, then an invoice in the amount of $140 would need to be paid prior to staff's review of the application. Please know that this is a nonrefundable fee and will not be returned even if the event is cancelled. Upon proof of payment of the required $140 fee, the application will be processed.

Insurance Requirement

As far as the insurance, it will need to be for $2 million per occurrence (minimum)/$4 million aggregate and naming the City of Lynwood as and additional insured on the Certificate of Insurance. In addition, need a copy of the endorsement that must include the following language for indemnification:

City and its respective elected and appointed boards, officials, officers, agents, employees and volunteers (individually and collectively, "Indemnities") shall have no liability to Vendor or any other person for, and Vendor shall indemnify, defend, protect and hold harmless Indemnities from and against, any and all liabilities, claims, actions, causes of action, proceedings, suits, damages, judgments, liens, levies, costs and expenses of whatever nature, including reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements (collectively "Claims"), which Indemnities may suffer or incur or to which Indemnities may become subject by reason of or arising out of any injury to or death of any person(s), damage to property, loss of use of property, economic loss or other loss occurring as a result of or allegedly caused by Vendor's performance of or failure to perform any services under this Agreement or by the negligent or willful acts or omissions of Vendor, its agents, officers, directors, subcontractor, sub consultant or employees, committed in performing any of the services under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this subsection shall not apply to Claims occurring as a result of the City's sole negligence or willful acts or omissions.

Conditions of Approval

In addition, if the event were approved, you would be required to sign a Conditions of Approval form that would include a number of conditions for the event. Shown below is a sample list of conditions. Please know that this is not a complete list, as that would not be known until we have a complete application for the event.

Conditions of Approval (Sample List)

  1. All patrons participating in the event must obey all traffic laws
  2. All patrons participating in the event must wear a facemask at all times they come into contact with Applicant staff or Vendors
  3. The Applicant and all participating Vendors must obtain a City of Lynwood Business License prior to start of event
  4. All Applicant staff and Vendors must maintain a minimum of 6 feet from each other
  5. All Applicant staff and Vendors must wear a facemask and gloves at all times when participating in the event
  6. There may be no posting of signs within the public right-of way or on poles, traffic lights, etc.
  7. No banner is allowed, unless the City's Planning Division has issued a permit prior to the event date
  8. Applicant must comply with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) regulations
  9. Applicant must coordinate with Public Works Department five working days prior to each event date to review and receive approval of the traffic control plan for the event
  10. All temporary power hook-ups or connections must be approved by the City's Building Division, and obtain any needed permits prior to commencement of the event
  11. The Applicant shall furnish and make available refuse containers and service, and leave the grounds clean of all refuse and restored to their original condition after each event
  12. Emergency access to all areas of the property shall be maintained throughout the entire event
  13. Only Vendors listed on the application and that have a valid City of Lynwood Business License will be allowed to participate in the event
  14. Applicant must provide security personnel onsite each day of event
  15. Applicant must provide a minimum of one staff person at each entry point of the event for the entire time of the event
  16. Applicant must maintain the required liability insurance of $2 million per occurrence/$4 million aggregate and naming the City of Lynwood as and additional insured on the Certificate of Liability Insurance
  17. Applicant (as "Indemnifying Party") shall protect, indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the City of Lynwood and its elected and appointed officials, officers, agents, employees and independent contractors (collectively, the "Indemnified Party") from and against any and all claims, losses, damages, liabilities, fines, penalties, liens, judgments, awards, settlements, actions, causes of action, suits, demands, fees, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' and expert fees and costs) based on claims for personal injury and/or wrongful death (collectively, the "Claims") caused by an individual's participation in the event

Please be sure to complete the application and submit the necessary materials to help avoid any obstacles or delays that may hinder the issuance of an event permit.

Questions & Concerns

If you ever have a question about the process of obtaining a Special Event Permit or if a particular event would require a Special Event Permit, please feel free to contact the Director of Community Development, Gabriel Linares, at 310-603-0220, ext. 605 or via email.

Beware

Please be aware that if an event takes place that would have required a Special Event Permit but one was not approved by the City, then the event may be shut down and/or a citation issued to the property owner by the City's Public Safety Division.