• Be approved by the City of Surprise.
• Implement adequate safety precautions that are consistent with guidance issued by the CDC for mitigating the spread of COVID-19 and that are in compliance with the Maricopa County and City of Surprise face covering mandates. For a list of mitigation elements the City suggests, click here.
• Submit their COVID-19 mitigation plans to the city for review, approval and posting to the city’s website through the Public Event Registration and/or Temporary Use Permit process. (See Approved Events) 
• Agree to enforcement of mitigation measures by the city. 

WHAT IS AN “ORGANIZED PUBLIC EVENT”?

Subject to further guidance from the State of Arizona, the City of Surprise defines an “organized public event” as any organized event held on public or private property that is open to participation or attendance by the general public with or without a fee or charge, registration or age requirement. 

Examples include, but are not limited to, fairs, ceremonies, exhibitions, festivals, carnivals, concerts, performances, farmer’s markets, competitions, and seasonal/holiday events. Constitutionally protected activities, such as assembly for speech or religious practices or purposes, are not included in this definition. 

Any organized public event within the City of Surprise of more than 50 people that does not receive prior approval through the Public Event Registration Process and/or the City’s Temporary Use Special Event Permit process will be in violation of the Executive Order. 

APPLICATIONS

For a Public Event Registration, applications must be submitted no less than 10 days prior to the scheduled event. This is for public events as defined above that will have more than 50 people in attendance, such as a concert/performance at a performing arts venue or a sports tournament at a sporting facility that does NOT modify its intended use:

• Public Event Registration – No Application Fee

For a Temporary Use Permit (TUP), applications must be submitted no less than 15 days prior to the scheduled event. Special events, such as carnivals, festivals, fairs, holiday events, fairs, grand openings, farmer’s markets, and sidewalk and tent sales, require the issuance of a TUP from the City, as these events modify the intended use of the event space/location:

• Temporary Use Permit (Special Event) – Subject to Applicable Fees
• Public Event Registration – No Application Fee. This form must be submitted with TUP applications where there is the potential for 50 or more people to gather or be in attendance.

QUESTIONS

If you have questions about which applications to submit, or to check the status of your application, please contact the Community Development Department at 623.222.3000.