The Department of Permitting Services Special Events Permit

About the Program

Category: Civic Education and Public Information

Year: 2023

The Department of Permitting Services (DPS) supports organizations that seek to make Montgomery County, Maryland a destination for events that help foster economic development and promotes the County’s diversity of rich activity filled with art, entertainment, attractions, historical sites, and special events.  Implemented in May of 2018, the DPS Special Events Permit serves as a planning tool for event planners to ensure their event is in compliance with local laws, ordinances, and executive regulations.  Most importantly that the special event, whether it be a festival or professional golf tournament the event is memorialized by both organizers and public as a positive and successful experience. The Special Events Permit requires event planners to consider and prepare for the safe installation of tents, electrical equipment, stages, traffic management plans, adequate public facilities such as, porta johns, alcohol licensure, vendor licensure, play equipment related to carnivals, road and lane closures.  Moreover, event planners are educated on the fees that must be paid and associated inspections that must be passed prior to the approval of licenses, permits, and date of the event. The outcome of its implementation, event planners experience shorter planning timelines adequately coordinated with the five divisions comprising DPS and the many partner executive agencies that include Police, Fire/Rescue, Alcohol Beverage Services, Environmental Protection, Health & Human Services, and the Office of the County Executive.