Things to Consider Before Planning an Event in the LBC

You WILL NEED:

• Active Business License (Fee: Dependent on details of business)
• Property Use Agreement (No Fee)
  • If event is being held on property other than your own, we will need proof of permission from property owner and its current occupancy rating.
• Occasional Event Permit (OEP) for each event day (limit 12 per year) (Fee: $102/day)
  • OEP Application
  • Short Term Rental Event Application
  • OEP Checklist
  • OEP FAQs

All OEP permit applicants (including non-profits) and their participating vendors MUST have a business license in good standing to apply.

The event is intended for a 1 DAY Permit for businesses who do not have an entertainment license to have entertainment on private property and must be FULLY CONTAINED to private property to qualify. Should any part of the event affect public property (example: attendees lining up on sidewalk, impacts neighborhood parking, etc.), organizer must apply for a Special Event permit. You may apply for an OEP every 10 days.

Fee (per event day): approximately $250

Please email Site Plans and PDF Applications to SEF-Permits@longbeach.gov

Private Property Examples: 

• Business Property
• Community Rooms
• Private Parking Lots
• Private Courtyards
• Privately-owned Streets (The Promenade)

You WILL NEED:

• Event Site Layout (No Fee)
• Active Business License (Fee: Dependent on details of business)
• Special Event Permit (SEP) (Fee: Determined by Event Tier, see below)
  • SEP Application
  • SEP Terms and Conditions
  • SEP FAQs
• SEP Checklist
• SEP Forms

All applications must be received sixty (60) days prior to the scheduled event. An Event Operator should be appointed since they will be responsible for conducting an event, gathering all permits from vendors, and for the event.

A Special Event is any organized event, small or large-scale events such as races, parades, marathons and sporting events, concerts, fairs, community events, and any organized assembly of seventy-five (75) or more people on any public space, waterway, property, structure, or public right of way, owned or controlled by the City of Long Beach.

• TIER I EVENT
  • Free, open to the public, no setup, no alcohol. Example: dance recital with minimal setup & a small wedding.
  • Fee (per event day): approximately $700 – $1,000 (+City staffing fees)
• TIER II EVENT
  • Open to the public, no ticket for entry, minimum setup, or private nonprofit fundraising event. Example: Non-profit walk/run, festivals with free admission.
  • Fee (per event day): approximately $1,400 – $1,800 (+City staffing fees)
• TIER III EVENT
  • Ticketed, extensive setup in the venue with controlled access and exclusive use. Examples: Beach concerts, Food and beer festivals, large scale events.
  • Fee (per event day): approximately $3,000 – $3,500 (+City staffing fees)
• FILMING
  • All applications must be received three (3) days prior to the scheduled event.
  • Fee (per filming day): $1,500 – $2,000 (+City staffing fees)

Public Property Examples:

• Streets
• City-owned Parking Lots
• Parks/Greenspaces/Beaches
  • NOTE: if your event is at a Public Park in LBC, you WILL ALSO NEED
    • Park and Recreation and Maine – Facility Reservation
  • Application for Facility Use Permit
  • Fee Wavier form

Facility use Permit Fee is $40 and is non-refundable. This doesn’t include the facility reservation fee.

Determine your group’s eligibility for a possible reduction of rental fees by reviewing the Fee Waiver Policy. Please submit fee waiver requests a minimum of 60 days before the event to allow time for processing.

All facility rentals will include 2 staff for $30/hr. per staff in addition to the cost of renting the facility regardless of when the facility is rented. All rental booking changes must be submitted in writing and will be assessed a change fee of $35/occurrence.

A $250 refundable deposit fee is requested to secure the location and date of the event. To receive the refundable security deposit, the permittee must complete a walk-through with staff immediately before and after the reservation.  Please allow 4 – 6 weeks for processing of your refund.

You WILL NEED: 

Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) Event License (per vendor)

• Fee: Varies based on event type, click here to learn more about ABC requirements: ABC-215

Private Patrol Operator (PPO) (Fee: ranges from $25-150/hour – depends on date, time, staff, security details, and duties.)

You MIGHT NEED (see Glossary of definitions at the bottom of this webpage):

• Event Site Layout (No Fee)
• Community Survey (No Fee)
• Fire Safety Officer Spot Check (Fee: $143)

You WILL NEED:

Temporary Food Facility Permit (TFF) (per vendor)

• Fee: Dependent on vendor setup and food type

You MIGHT NEED (see Glossary of definitions at the bottom of this webpage):

• Event Site Layout (No Fee)
• Private Patrol Operator (PPO) (Fee: ranges from $25-150/hour – depends on date, time, staff, security details, and duties)
• Community Survey (No Fee)
• Fire Safety Officer Spot Check (Fee: $143)

You WILL NEED:

Special Event Permit (SEP) (Fee: Determined by Event Tier, see below)

• SEP Application
• SEP Terms and Conditions
• SEP FAQs
• SEP Checklist
• SEP Forms

All applications must be received sixty (60) days prior to the scheduled event. An Event Operator should be appointed since they will be responsible for conducting an event, gathering all permits from vendors, and for the event.

A Special Event is any organized event, small or large-scale events such as races, parades, marathons and sporting events, concerts, fairs, community events, and any organized assembly of seventy-five (75) or more people on any public space, waterway, property, structure, or public right of way, owned or controlled by the City of Long Beach.

• TIER I EVENT
  • Free, open to the public, no setup, no alcohol. Example: dance recital with minimal setup & a small wedding.
  • Fee (per event day): approximately $700 – $1,000 (+City staffing fees)
• TIER II EVENT
  • Open to the public, no ticket for entry, minimum setup, or private nonprofit fundraising event. Example: Non-profit walk/run, festivals with free admission.
  • Fee (per event day): approximately $1,400 – $1,800 (+City staffing fees)
• TIER III EVENT
  • Ticketed, extensive setup in the venue with controlled access and exclusive use. Examples: Beach concerts, Food and beer festivals, large scale events.
  • Fee (per event day): approximately $3,000 – $3,500 (+City staffing fees)
• FILMING
  • All applications must be received three (3) days prior to the scheduled event.
  • Fee (per filming day): $1,500 – $2,000 (+City staffing fees)

You MIGHT NEED (see Glossary of definitions at the bottom of this webpage):

• Event Site Layout (No Fee)
• Private Patrol Operator (PPO) (Fee: ranges from $25-150/hour – depends on date, time, staff, security details, and duties)
• Community Survey (No Fee)
• Fire Safety Officer Spot Check (Fee: $143)

Live Entertainment Examples:

• Disc Jockeys
• Live Musicians/Bands
• Performance Artists
• Anything with projected sound
• Other types of entertainment (this is a separate category, not live entertainment; different permitting process):
  • Fireworks
  • Drones
  • Petting Zoo

DTLB Event Operators:

*Inquire for event organizer referrals at JustineN@DTLB.org

• LB Grey
• Kahlo Creative

DTLB Event Venues: click to view

You must obtain a permit from the State Department of Alcoholic Beverages Control (ABC) http://www.abc.ca.gov/districts.asp and a Security Plan Worksheet must be submitted with your application.

Catering and Event Permits are one-day event authorizations that require a permanent license, typically a Type 58 Caterer’s Permit or a Type 77 Event Permit that is issued in addition to licensee’s primary retail license.

Security is needed if you are serving alcohol. Please indicate security company, PPO#, contact information, and where they will be stationed on site map.

If your event is serving food of any kind or your venue is not licensed to serve food, you will need a Health Permit. Please fill out this Organizer Permit Application & TFF Food Permit Application and email to Janice.Garcia@longbeach.gov or go to their Temporary Food Facilities page for more info.

All Business License Applicants (including non-profits) and participating event vendors must provide a fully processed ACTIVE business license in good standing with the City of Long Beach. Verify your status by looking up your business license on BizMaps. For more info on being a Special Event Vendor or to obtain a Business License, call Business Licensing at (562) 570-6211.

Everyone must submit a detailed diagram of your proposed set up with dimensions indicating location of entertainment, emergency exit doors, location of alcohol, location of security, etc. Please submit this to SEF-Permits@longbeach.gov with the name of your event in the Subject Line. *Submittable Event map: Google Maps and Microsoft paint or Canva (i.e. attached)

Attached to Event Site Plan Information should include locations of all stages, platforms, bleachers, grandstands, canopies, tents, and location of power sources or generators, show the distribution of power within the venue.

Event Permit Signature Survey: In some cases, signature surveys may be required with an approval rating of 80% of the impacted residents/businesses within a radius of your event venue. Impacted area shall be determined by the Office of Special Events and Filming.

Guidelines: For the duration of your permit, you must maintain, from an insurance company either admitted to write insurance in the State of California or rated A:VIII by AM. Best company (or equivalent), the following insurance coverages, unless the City’s Risk Manager determines that other coverages or higher limits are required for your specific event or activity.

If event is being held on property other than your own, we will need proof of permission from property owner and its current occupancy rating.