Canyon Lake Municipal Code Ch. 11.25 Special Events

The purpose of this Chapter is to provide for the regulation of special events on public and certain private property to ensure the health and safety of the public, the protection of property, and the efficient transition of traffic, while protecting the constitutional rights of all persons to free speech and assembly.

(a) No person shall conduct, manage, or sponsor a special event, as defined herein, without first obtaining a special event permit from the City Manager or their designee. This requirement applies to events held on public property (including streets, parks, and sidewalks) and events on private property, including Canyon Lake Property Owners Association property, that meet the criteria in subsection (b).

(b) As used in this Chapter, "special event" means any assembly, congregation, attraction, display, parade, race, entertainment, demonstration, carnival, bazaar, circus, rodeo, or other traveling show, fair, "party house," festival, food faire, cookoff, dance, concert, party, or performance, block party or any other planned occurrence which is reasonably expected to involve 100 or more persons (including participants and spectators).

(c) This permit requirement shall not apply to:

(1) Funeral processions;

(2) Activities conducted by a governmental agency within the scope of its official functions;

(3) Gatherings conducted on residential property that are incidental and accessory to the primary residential use of the property, provided that: (A) the gathering is private in nature and not open or advertised to the general public; (B) the gathering is not conducted for commercial purposes, including but not limited to charging admission, fees, whether directly or indirectly, or being promoted, marketed, or made available through any website, platform, or other medium for the purpose of hosting events in exchange for compensation; (C) the residential property is not rented, leased, licensed, or otherwise used as an event venue; and (D) the gathering otherwise complies with all applicable provisions of this Code, including but not limited to zoning, noise, parking, and public safety requirements.

(d) This permit requirement shall not supersede any other temporary outdoor event permit, business license, or other permit required by City Code. The City shall coordinate the processing of multiple permits to the extent feasible.

(Ord. 66, passed 8-6-1997; Am. Ord. 275, passed 5-13-2026)

This provision of this Chapter shall apply to vessel or water ski races or other marine special events as “special events” are defined herein.

(Ord. 66, passed 8-6-1997)

(a) All applications for special events permits shall be filed with the City at least 30 days before the scheduled event date. The City Manager or his or her designee shall either approve or deny the application within ten days of the date the complete application is filed. The City Manager shall state in writing the reasons for the appeal and the applicant’s appeal rights. The applicant shall thereafter have five days to file an appeal with the City Council or its designated subcommittee in the event of denial. The appeal hearing shall occur within five days after receipt thereof. All appeals shall be in writing and list all grounds upon which the appeal is based. The City Council, by resolution, may set appropriate fees for the filing of applications or appeals. If the City does not act to approve or deny the application within the 20-day period, it shall be deemed approved.

(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a) above, the City Manager may approve an application for a special event filed at least 24 hours in advance of the event where (1) the City Manager finds good cause to grant a waiver to the 30-day application requirement or (2) the application meets the requirements for Special Event Permit - Minor and can be reasonably expected to attract no more than 100 attendees. The City Manager may promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Subsection.

(Ord. 66, passed 8-6-1997; Am. Ord. 232, passed 3-8-2023)

All applications for a special event permit shall be on a form provided by the City and shall request the information necessary for staff to make their recommendations to the City. The form shall provide at least the following information:

(a) The name, address, and telephone number of the applicant and an alternative person who may be contacted if the applicant is unavailable.

(b) If the event is proposed to be conducted or sponsored by an organization, the name, address and telephone number of the organization and the person authorized to obtain the permit. Written authorization to apply for the special event permit by an officer of the organization may also be required.

(c) The name, address and telephone number of the person who will be present and in charge of the event on the day of the event.

(d) Date and estimated starting and ending time of the event.

(e) Location and/or route of the event, including its boundaries and assembly points and route traveled.

(f) Estimated number of participants in the event.

(g) The type and estimated number of vehicles, animals or structures which will be used at the event and information as to whether there will be sponsor-provided water, aid or emergency aid stations at the event.

(h) Description of any sound amplification equipment which will be used at the event and noise mitigation measures.

(i) Whether any food or beverages, including alcoholic beverages will be sold and/or furnished at the event and what type of clean up, disposal and/or trash receptacles will be used at the event.

(j) Whether monitors will be employed at the event.

(k) Anticipated parking needed for the event participants and how it will be met.

(l) As applicable, the assembly and disassembly points for the event and the time at which units of the parade or other event will begin to assemble.

(m) Estimate number of spectators.

(n) Whether the parade or other event will occupy all or only a portion of the streets proposed to be traversed.

(o) The intervals of space to be maintained between units of the parade or other event.

(p) The number, types, and sizes of floats, if any.

(q) A written site plan, plan also showing security, fire protection, sanitation and traffic control.

(r) Any supplemental information reasonably necessary for that event.

(s) For a block party, agreement of 50% of owners/ tenants on the block.

(Ord. 66, passed 8-6-1997)

A permit condition may be appealed in the same manner as a permit denial. All special events shall be conducted in accordance with the following conditions, as applicable:

(a) Alteration of the date, time, route, or location of the event proposed on the event application.

(b) Conditions concerning the area of assembly and disbanding of parade or other event occurring along a route.

(c) Condition concerning accommodation of pedestrian or vehicular traffic, including restricting the event to only a portion of a street.

(d) Requirements for the use of traffic cones barricades.

(e) Requirements for provision of first aid, sanitary or emergency facilities, and water for participants and/or spectators.

(f) Requirements for use of event monitors and some method for providing notice of permit conditions to event participants.

(g) Restrictions on the number of type of vehicles, animals, or structures at the event, and inspection and approval of floats, structures, and decorated vehicles for fire safety by the Canyon Lake Fire Department.

(h) Compliance with animal protection ordinances and laws.

(i) Requirements for use of garbage containers, cleanup and restoration of the City property.

(j) Restrictions on use of amplified sound.

(k) An application for a special event permit to conduct a block party or “party house” may be conditioned on notice and approval by 50% of the owners or tenants of dwellings or businesses along the affected street(s).

(l) Compliance with any relevant ordinance or law in obtaining any legally required permit or license.

(m) Any additional requirements for rides, games, concessions.

(n) That an appropriate cash deposit be posted with the City to compensate it for any special services that may be required, including but not limited to, police, fire, traffic control and clean-up; provided that with respect to constitutionally protected noncommercial parades and demonstrations, no police fees shall be charged other than for traffic control. All charges shall be based on the hourly rate of all employees expected to be required to perform services during the event and shall contain an administrative charge to cover the support services incurred as a result of the event. The permittee shall post the deposit at least seven days before the event. The permittee shall be given an accounting of all charges within a reasonable time after the event, and a refund if due. The deposit shall be determined by the City Manager based on size and type of event.

(o) Proof of special event insurance and indemnification as set out herein.

(Ord. 66, passed 8-6-1997)

Notwithstanding any approval given pursuant to this Chapter, any County Sheriff, City Police Officer or City code enforcement , fire official or building official hereby is granted the authority to stop or prevent any immediate threat to the public health or safety, or any special right to issue a cease and desist order for all or any part of the special event or any special event. The provisions of Chapter 3.37 (for return) also shall apply.

(Ord. 66, passed 8-6-1997; Am. Ord. 198, passed 7-8-2020)

Upon receipt of a complete application and the application fee, the City manager or his/her designee shall refer same to concerned departments of the City, including but not limited to the Police Department, County Fire Department, Planning Department, Building and Safety Department, public works department and the County Health Officer, as applicable, who may investigate the application and report in writing to the City as soon as possible with appropriate recommendations relating to their official functions as to the granting of a permit and the establishment of special conditions therefor.

(Ord. 66, passed 8-6-1997)

(a) The applicant shall submit proof of personal injury and property damage insurance of the combined single limit of one million dollars. Such insurance shall provide coverage and be placed with a company with a rating approved by the City staff. The City and its officers, agents and employees shall be named as additional insureds on said policy and the City shall be provided with an endorsement of insurance evidencing this fact. Both the applicant and any independent contractors shall also provide copies of their workers' compensation certificates for all employees.

(b) The applicant shall indemnify the City, its officers an employees from any claim or liability arising out of the street or special event.

(Ord. 66, passed 8-6-1997)

The issuance of a special event permit pursuant to this Chapter shall not supersede, replace, or eliminate the requirement to obtain or comply with any other applicable permit, license, or approval or requirement imposed by this Code or other applicable laws. All such permits, licenses, and approvals shall be obtained and complied with independently, and, to the extent possible, coordinated by the City. Where any provision of this Chapter imposes a standard or requirement that differs from any other applicable permit, license, or approval or requirement imposed by this Code or other applicable laws, the provision which is more specific to the nature of the special event shall control. In all other instances, the provision that imposes the more restrictive standard for the protection of public health and safety shall govern.

(Ord. 275, passed 5-13-2026)

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Chapter to the contrary, any requirement of this Chapter that may conflict with overriding noncommercial First Amendment protected activity shall be waived by the City Manager when legally required.

(b) The provisions of this Chapter may also be waived by the City Council for nonprofit corporations that are engaged in charitable or public benefit purposes whenever those purposes benefit the City or its citizens.

(c) The City Manager may waive the 30-day application period and any other provisions hereof for good cause if the goals of this Chapter still are met.

(Ord. 66, passed 8-6-1997)

(a) The City, after consulting with the Chief of Police, Fire Chief, City Engineer, Planning Director and any other staff person deemed appropriate, shall deny, revoke or suspend the application if the City finds notice thereof;

(b) That the applicant has made a false, fraudulent, or misleading statement or a material fact in the application;

(c) That the applicant has failed to meet the conditions imposed by this Chapter;

(d) That the safety, health or public welfare of the citizens would be endangered by the granting of the permit as, for example, traffic will be interrupted during peak hours or insufficient rescue services or Police services will be available in the remainder of the City.

(e) Another event has been permitted for the same time and place.

(Ord. 66, passed 8-6-1997)

Any person violating or failing to comply with any of the provisions of this Chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not to exceed $500, or by imprisonment not to exceed six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each such person shall be guilty of a separate offense for each and every day during any portion of which any violation of the provisions of this Chapter is committed. Violators may include not only those person staging the street or special event but any person knowingly participating in the event after being advised of its illegality.

(Ord. 66, passed 8-6-1997)