Special Events

WELCOME!

Tulsa is a city that celebrates special events. This page includes the City of Tulsa’s Special Event Permit Application and instructions developed to guide you through the permit process. Please read carefully.

Permit applications must be received by the City of Tulsa no later than sixty (60) days prior to the actual date of your event and may be submitted as early as one (1) year before your event. In general, any organized activity involving the use of, or having impact upon, public property, public facilities, right-of-ways, sidewalks, street areas, or the temporary use of private property including parking lots in a manner that varies from its current land use, requires a permit. Please allow up to sixty (60) days for the submittal, review, and final decision on the approval or denial of this permit.

A Special Event Permit does not negate the additional requirements of obtaining the proper Zoning, Health, Alcohol and Beer, Tent, Park, Outdoor Sellers, or Amusement Ride Permits for an event. You will be responsible to contact the below relevant agencies for other specific permits and/or licenses.

If you are placing a tent, canopy, stage, or scaffold, etc. on public property, private property, or parking lot, you will need a Tent Permit and/or Building Permit. Please contact the One-Stop-Permit Center at 596.9601. For information on permits go to www.cityoftulsa.org.

If you are placing any other structure (i.e. amusement ride, inflatable, climbing wall, etc.) on public property, private property, or parking lot, you will need a Certificate of Operation. Please contact the Oklahoma Department of Labor at 888.269.5353 x241. For information on go to www.labor.ok.gov.

If your event is taking place on private property, including parking lots, for any amount of time, you will need a Zoning Clearance Permit. Please contact the One-Stop-Permit Center at 596.9601. For more information on permits go to www.cityoftulsa.org. Your event may require approval from the City’s Board of Adjustment, the exception to this rule is in the Central Business District (CBD). Upon verification with the Zoning Clearance officer, contact the Board of Adjustment (BOA) at 584.7526. For information go to www.cityoftulsa-boa.org.

If you are selling beer and/or alcohol at your event, you will need a Special Event County Beverage Permit and/or Catering License including an Oklahoma Tax Commission Permit. Please contact County Business Licenses at 596.5478 and City Business Licenses at 596.7640. In addition, if selling or serving alcohol, you will need to notify the ABLE Commission at 581.2402. For information on City of Tulsa Ordinances go to www.cityoftulsa.org.

If you are selling, serving, or giving away food or beverages including beer and alcohol at your event, you will need a Food Service Permit. Please contact the Tulsa Health Department at 595.4322. For information go to www.tulsa-health.org.

If you are selling any type of item at your event, you will need an Outdoor Sellers License. Please contact City Business Licenses at 596.7640. For information on licenses to to www.cityoftulsa.org.

If you are utilizing a City Park for your event, you will need a Park Permit. Please contact Tulsa Parks at 596.2488 or complete an on-line form at www.tulsaparks.org. For River Parks, contact 596.2001 or go to www.riverparks.org.

If you are organizing a daytime neighborhood block party involving only minor residential streets, you will need to contact Working in Neighborhoods (WIN) at www.tulsaneighbors.org to complete an on-line form fifteen (15) days prior to the actual date of the block party. In addition, please notify the Public Works and Development Department at 596.7430.

Per the below instructions, type and complete the application using Abode Acrobat. Carefully review the cover letter attached to the application. Any omission will delay the Special Event Permit Application Process. Handwritten applications and faxes will not be processed.

Please download the Special Event Permit Application using Adobe Acrobat. If you have the free version of Adobe Reader, you will be able to type in the blanks on the application, but you will not be able to save your work. Print each page as you complete it and do not close your browser if you do not want to lose your work in progress. Once you have completed the application and any required attachments, print a hard copy and mail or deliver it to the Tulsa Police Office of Special Events, 5963 East 13th Street, Tulsa Oklahoma, 74112-5407.

If you have the full version of Adobe Acrobat, you will be able to download the application to your computer, type in the blanks on the application, and save the information on your computer. You will not lose information that you have saved. Upon completion, you can attach the application and any required attachments via an email to the Special Events Coordinator. Your electronic submission will serve as your electronic signature.

On behalf of the City of Tulsa, we thank you for contributing to the spirit and vitality of our community through the staging of your event. Best wishes for a successful event!