Special Events Permit Process Simplification Act of 2025

COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OFFICE OF COUNCILMEMBER BROOKE PINTO THE JOHN A. WILSON BUILDING 1350 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 106 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20004

November 14, 2025 Nyasha Howard, Secretary Council of the District of Columbia 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20004 Dear Secretary Howard, Today, along with Councilmembers Brianne Nadeau and Charles Allen, I am introducing the “Special Events Permit Process Simplification Act of 2025” to make the permitting process for special events more transparent and efficient, ensuring organizations continue to host parades, festivals, and public gatherings that contribute to the cultural vitality of the District. Special events, from Capital Pride festivities to the Downtown Christmas Market to neighborhood block parties, enliven our streets, foster community, attract tourists and visitors, and make DC a phenomenal place to live. The District government should be doing everything possible to make hosting a special event simple, affordable, and hassle-free. Currently, no single agency is responsible for managing the special event permitting process. As a result, applicants must decipher complex permitting guidelines and navigate between agencies on their own. Even for the most experienced event organizers who host the same event year after year, the process remains opaque, costly, and time-consuming. The Special Event Permit Process Simplification Act aims to improve the applicant experience by: 1. Establishing an Office of Special Events under the Deputy Mayor of Planning and Economic Development to help applicants navigate the permitting process and ensure agencies process permit applications in a timely manner. The Office of Special Events would be required to develop an online application portal to help applicants identify the required permits for their event and provide a cost estimate up-front. 2. Relocating the Mayor’s Special Events Task Group (“MSETG”), which is currently under the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, to the new Office of Special Events. MSETG is composed of agency representatives who review plans for large-scale special events. The bill would also simplify MSETG processes and require that event fees and application timelines be determined based on the size and complexity of the event. 3. Establishing a multi-year approval process for Business Improvement District (“BID”) events that occur on a recurring basis. Rather than requiring BIDs to present before MSETG annually, BIDs would be granted approval for up to five years on the condition that they apply and receive all required permits each year. 4. Establishing a Special Events Task Force composed of agency representatives to identify strategies to streamline permit requirements and reduce associated costs. 5. Codifying the Mayor’s Special Events Fund in statute to cover or partially cover the costs of required city services for special events.

The Special Events Permit Process Simplification Act will significantly reduce barriers to hosting a special event and promote the activation of public space across the city. Should you have any questions about this legislation, please contact my Policy Advisor, Ella Hanson, at ehanson@dccouncil.gov. Thank you,
Brooke Pinto Councilmember, Ward 2 Chairwoman, Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety Council of the District of Columbia

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_____________________________ _____________________________ Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau Councilmember Brooke Pinto _____________________________ Councilmember Charles Allen A BILL __________ IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA _________________ To establish an Office of Special Events within the Office of the Deputy Mayor of Planning and 1 Economic Development, to transfer the Mayor’s Special Events Task Force from the 2 Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency to the Office of Special Events, 3 to streamline and improve the special event permitting process, to establish a 5-year 4 approval designation for Business Improvement District special events requiring street 5 closures, and to establish a Special Events Program to provide grants for special events 6 with street closures. 7 8 BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 9 act may be cited as the “Special Events Permit Process Simplification Act of 2025”. 10 Sec. 2. Definitions. 11 For the purposes of this act, the term: 12 (1) “BID” means a Business Improvement District established pursuant to section 13 2 of the Business Improvement Districts Act of 1996, effective May 29, 1996 (D.C. Law 11-134; 14 D.C. Official Code § 2–1215.01). 15 (2) “Conditional approval” means preliminary authorization granted by the 16 Mayor’s Special Events Task Group permitting an organization to proceed with planning a 17

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special event requiring street closures, contingent upon the organization’s receipt of all required 18 permits and fulfillment of all applicable agency requirements. 19 (3) “DMPED” means the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic 20 Development. 21 (4) “Final approval” means authorization granted by the Mayor’s Special Events 22 Task Group for an organization to hold a special event requiring street closures upon 23 confirmation that all required permits have been issued and all applicable agency requirements 24 have been satisfied. 25 (5) “MSETG” means the Mayor’s Special Events Task Group. 26 (6) “OSE” means the Office of Special Events, established by section 3. 27 (7) "Special event” means an organized activity held on public sidewalks or 28 public streets that impedes normal traffic or pedestrian flow, including but not limited to block 29 parties, farmers’ markets, parades, festivals, and filming events. 30 Sec. 3. Establishment of the Office of Special Events. 31 (a) There is established within DMPED an Office of Special Events (“OSE”). 32 (b) The OSE shall: 33 (1) Assist the public in navigating the permitting and approval process for all 34 types of special events; 35 (2) Organize and oversee the MSETG as established under section 5; and 36 (3) Administer the Special Events Fund established under section 8. 37 (c) First amendment event permits shall be applied for directly through the Metropolitan 38 Police Department and are excluded from OSE responsibilities. 39 Sec. 4. Special Event Application Portal. 40

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(a) The OSE shall establish and maintain a publicly accessible website that includes, at a 41 minimum: 42 (1) An up-to-date calendar of street closures and an events list showing approved 43 dates and locations; 44 (2) A video explaining the special event permitting process for each type of 45 special event; 46 (3) Free training videos for event coordinators, including on event safety and 47 cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and 48 (4) An online portal for special event application submission, including: 49 (A) A questionnaire about the type and size of the event and other factors 50 determining the type of the special event and permits required; 51 (B) A check list of all required permits determined by the questionnaires 52 with direct weblinks to application forms; 53 (C) A total cost estimate and breakdown of expected permit fees and other 54 fees charged by agencies; 55 (D) An application processing timeline, including the status of the 56 application; and 57 (E) Contact information, including a phone number and email address for 58 an OSE staff member available to answer questions. 59 (b) Special event applications shall be submitted via the OSE portal shall provide an 60 alternative ‘rain date’ in the application. 61 Sec. 5. Establishment of the Mayor’s Special Events Task Group. 62

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(a) There is established within DMPED, a Mayor’s Special Events Task Group 63 (“MSETG”), which may consist of representatives from the following agencies: 64 (1) Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (“DLCP”); 65 (2) District Department of Transportation; 66 (3) Metropolitan Police Department; 67 (4) Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department; 68 (5) Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency; 69 (6) Department of Health; 70 (7) Department of Buildings; 71 (8) National Park Service; and 72 (9) Any additional agencies designated by DMPED. 73 (b) The MSETG shall: 74 (1) Review plans for special events requiring street closures, excluding block 75 parties, as defined in section 2 of the Block Party Act of 2012, effective October 23, 2012 (D.C. 76 Law 19-190, D.C. Official Code § 9–631), and Tier 1 events, as described in subsection (g)(A) of 77 this section. 78 (2) Issue determinations regarding conditional and final approval; and 79 (3) Coordinate interagency review of required permits and community 80 notifications. 81 (c) Applicants shall submit all materials required for conditional approval in the Notice of 82 Interest (“NOI”) application. 83 (d) After reviewing the NOI materials, MSETG may require the applicant to present 84 virtually before the task group and shall provide a list of required agency permits. 85

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(e) To receive final approval from MSETG, the applicant shall submit: 86 (1) Proof of issuance of all required agency permits; 87 (2) Evidence of compliance with all applicable agency requirements; 88 (3) Written notice to businesses, residents, and Advisory Neighborhood 89 Commissions (“ANCs) located on a street that is closed for the event within one month of the 90 event; and 91 (4) Confirmation of having presented before affected ANCs to address 92 community questions and concerns. 93 (f) Applicants shall not be required to collect signatures from businesses or residents. 94 (g) Events requiring street closures shall be classified into the following tiers. Applicants 95 shall apply under the highest tier for which any condition applies: 96 (A) Tier 1 for events which are: 97 (ii) No longer than one day; 98 (B) Held on no more than 1 city blocks; 99 (D) Expected to host no more than 149 attendees at any one time. 100 (2) Tier 2 for events which are: 101 (A) No longer than one day; 102 (B) Held on more than 2 city blocks; 103 (C) Expected to host between 150 and 250 attendees at any one 104 time. 105 (3) Tier 3 for events which are: 106 (A) More than one day; 107 (B) Recurring; 108

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(C) On a street with WMATA transportation stops; 109 (D) Permitted to sell alcohol; or 110 (E) Expected to host more than 250 attendees at any one time. 111 (h)(1) Tier 1 event applicants shall submit an application through the OSE portal within 112 10 business days before the event and shall not be required to pay an application fee or DLCP 113 special events license fee. 114 (2) Agencies shall issue all required permits for Tier 1 event applicants no later 115 than 3 business days prior to the event. 116 (h)(1) Tier 2 event applicants shall submit an NOI application within 20 business days 117 before the event and shall pay no more than $200 in application fees and DLCP special event 118 license fees. 119 (2) MSETG shall issue its final decision for Tier 2 event applicants no later than 120 15 business days after the applicant submits an NOI application. 121 (i)(1) Tier 3 event applicants shall submit an application within 120 business days before 122 the event and shall pay no more than $500 in application fees and DLCP special event license 123 fees. 124 (2) MSETG shall issue its final decision for Tier 3 event applicants no later than 125 110 business days after the applicant submits an NOI application. 126 Sec. 6. Multi-Year Special Event Approval for Business Improvement Districts. 127 (a) MSETG shall permit BIDs to apply for conditional approval for a period of 5 years to 128 hold recurring special events that require street closures if: 129 (1) The BID organized the same event in the previous calendar year; and 130

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(2) The event held during the previous calendar year did not result in documented 131 safety or health violations or incidents deemed significant by MSETG. 132 (b) Applications for multi-year special events approval shall include, at a minimum: 133 (1) The date and rain date of the event each calendar year; 134 (2) Economic and livability metrics; 135 (3) Application documents provided to MSETG during the previous year; and 136 (4) Any planned changes to the application from the previous calendar year. 137 (c) MSETG may charge the BID a one-time fee for a multi-year special events 138 conditional approval application that is equal to the fee for a one-year conditional approval 139 application. 140 (d) After receiving a five-year conditional approval agreement from MSETG, a BID shall 141 apply and receive all required permits before receiving final approval from MSETG. 142 (e) Within 30 days after an event, the BID shall submit the following information to 143 MSETG through the online portal as part of post-event reporting: 144 (1) Estimated event attendance; 145 (2) Office of Tax and Revenue compliance requirements for vendors; 146 (3) Documentation of any operational or safety issues that occurred at the event; 147 and 148 (4) Photographs documenting the removal of street signs. 149 (f)(1) If a BID makes any changes to the event plan that impact the life safety, security or 150 traffic control plan during the 5-year period of conditional approval, the BID must submit an 151 amendment for approval to MSETG at least 60 days before the event date. 152

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(2) A BID shall provide written notice to MSETG of any de minimis changes to 153 its event plan. 154 (g) MSETG may at any time revoke a BID’s conditional approval if MSETG deems that 155 the event poses health or safety risks to the public. 156 (h) MSETG shall consider a BID’s adherence to agency standards and requirements at 157 the event each year when considering renewing the 5-year approval agreement. 158 Sec. 7. Special Events Task Force. 159 (a) The OSE shall convene a task force composed of representatives from each agency 160 that issues permits related to special events. 161 (b) The task force shall meet for the first time no later than 60 days after the applicability 162 date of this act. 163 (c) Within 6 months of the applicability date of this act, the task force shall identify and 164 submit recommendations to the Mayor and Council regarding: 165 (1) Permit requirements that are duplicative or unnecessary; 166 (2) Strategies to simplify permit applications and processes; and 167 (3) Risk reduction strategies, including technologies that could reduce the need 168 for city services at special events. 169 Sec. 8. Special Events Program. 170 (a) There is established a Special Events Program, administered by OSE, to provide 171 grants to organizations hosting special events with street closures through a competitive 172 application process. 173 (b) The Program shall provide at least 16 grants annually, distributed evenly among the 174 District’s 8 wards. 175

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(c) Grant applications shall be available via the OSE portal and shall require the applicant 176 to demonstrate how the event will: 177 (1) Generate foot traffic for a commercial corridor; and 178 (2) Generate economic benefits for small businesses. 179 (d) Grants shall fully or partially cover permit fees and other expenses charged by the 180 following agencies: 181 (1) Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration; 182 (2) Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection; 183 (3) Department of Health; 184 (4) Department of Parks and Recreation; 185 (5) Department of Public Works; 186 (6) Department of Transportation; 187 (7) Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department; 188 (8) Metropolitan Police Department; and 189 (9) Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. 190 (e) Grant recipients shall report post-event metrics via the application portal, including: 191 (1) Approximate number of attendees; and 192 (2) Local business tax revenue impacts during the event period. 193 Sec. 9. Fiscal impact statement. 194 The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 195 impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 196 approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 197 Sec. 10. Effective date. 198

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This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 199 Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto) and a 30-day period of congressional review 200 as provided in section 602(c)(l) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 201 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code§ l-206.02(c)(l)). 202