The District Office reviews all applications for street activity permits within the boundaries of Brooklyn Community District 2.
The Citywide Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO) manages the permit process, and has established the following definitions:
- Block Party – a street activity requiring the closure of a single block (or portion) of a street, for a single day, intended for a community-based, not-for-profit organization, association, or the like, which has an indigenous relationship to the specific street, community, or both.
- Cleanup – a beautification of a neighborhood along a street, sidewalk, and/or plaza. Cleanups are limited to a 4-hour duration, usually in the morning hours. The sponsor shall be a community-based, not-for-profit organization, association, or the like, which has an indigenous relationship to the community.
- Farmers Market – a street activity where vendors sell produce as well as other food products directly to the public. The sponsor shall be a community-based, not-for-profit organization, association, or the like.
- Mobile Unit – the staging of (a) vehicle(s) for religious purposes while serving a benefit to the community.
- Parade – any procession or race which consists of a recognizable group of 50 or more pedestrians, vehicles, bicycles, or other devices moved by human power, or ridden or herded animals proceeding together upon a public street or roadway.
- Park Special Event – a group activity including, but not limited to, a performance, meeting, assembly, contest, exhibit, ceremony, parade, athletic competition, reading, or picnic involving more than 20 people or a group activity involving less than 20 people for which specific space is requested to be reserved. A special event in a park shall not included casual park use by visitors or tourists.
- Religious Ceremony – an act of public worship on street or sidewalks while serving a benefit to the community.
- Special Event – street activities that promote, advertise or introduce a product, corporation, company or other commercial entity or the goods or services of a corporation, company, or other commercial entity to either the general public or to a portion of the general public.
- Street Festival – a street activity requiring a multi-day and/or a multi-block street closure. The sponsor shall be a community-based, not-for-profit organization, association, or the like, which has an indigenous relationship to the specific street, community or both.
SAPO Review Process
Upon receipt of an application, SAPO will begin the review process and may contact the applicant for additional information. All components of an event are subject to approval by SAPO and may require approval by and/or permits from other City agencies, including the Community District Office. An applicant report will be generated by SAPO with a description and contact information for each necessary support permit. It is the responsibility of the applicant/sponsor to secure all necessary permits and provide documentation to SAPO prior to permit issuance.
SAPO requires a $1,000,000 certificate of liability insurance, with the City of New York listed as an additional insured, for all events excluding block parties without rides. The City of New York should be listed as follows: Street Activity Permit Office, 100 Gold Street, New York, NY 10038. This document may be uploaded electronically within the permit application.
After initial review, SAPO will contact necessary agencies, including the Community District Office, for their recommendations. Upon feedback from City agencies, SAPO may require the applicant to modify the event, change the event date or location, or deny the event. Special event applicants will receive an invoice for the fee assessed for the event.
When all necessary information is received and the event is approved, the applicant will be issued a permit approximately two weeks prior to the event date (except for special events).
Appeals
Applicants may appeal a Community District’s determination within five (5) business days of receipt by writing to the Director of SAPO at 100 Gold Street 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10038.
If the Director of SAPO denies the event, the applicant has the right to appeal within five (5) business days of receipt, by writing to the Executive Director of the Office of Citywide Event Coordination and Management at 100 Gold Street 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10038.