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Special Events

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.

Special Event Permit Applications requesting a street closure must be received by the City of Tulsa no later than ninety (90) days prior to the actual date of your event and may be submitted as early as one (1) year before your event. A street closing in conjunction with an event inside an adjacent auditorium, theatre or stadium must be received no later than forty-five (45) days prior to the event. Public outdoor events without a street closure (e.g. parking lot) must be received no later than forty-five (45) days prior to the event. Professional film-making requests must be received no later than fifteen (15) days prior to the production.

In general, any organized outdoor activity involving the use of, or having impact upon, public property, public facilities, rights-of-way, sidewalks, street areas, or the temporary use of private property in a manner that varies from its current land use, requires a permit. Land use regulations may reference public outdoor activities on a parking lot or private property by the serving beer, wine or spirits (liquor), entertainment with live music, fireworks, amusement rides or inflatables, or which has the potential of impacting public property or public safety services. A Special Event Permit is revocable.

Major Event shall mean any Special Event organized and conducted that utilizes Public Rights-of-Way (streets, alleys, sidewalks). The Major Event permit fee assessed shall be One Hundred Ten Dollars ($110 plus system fees). This fee is nonrefundable. 

Minor Event shall mean any Special Event organized and conducted that utilizes private property. The Minor Event permit fee assessed shall be Sixty-Five Dollars ($65 plus system fees). This fee is nonrefundable. 

Monthly Event shall mean any Special Event organized and conducted that utilizes public or private property for a recurring event and/or closure at the same location on multiple dates in the same calendar month, if no changes are made to the Site Plan and/or Traffic Control Plan. The Monthly Event permit fee assessed shall be governed by whether it is a Major Event or Minor Event.

Carefully review the application rules and checklist. 

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

  1. 10 x 10 tents may be single or grouped up to 4 but must not exceed 400 square feet.
  2. 10 x 20 tents may be single or grouped up to 2 but must not exceed 400 square feet.
  3. Grouping of said tents must have an access space of 12 feet between any other group, tent, building and property line.
  4. 20 x 20 tents must have an access space of 12 feet between any other group, tent, building and property line.
  5. No smoking in any size tent (vendor and customers). Must post "No Smoking" signs.
  6. Tents with 2 or more covered sides or during dark hours must display illuminated "Exit" signs. Tent occupancy over 50 must have 2 exits. Tent occupancy over 500 must have 3 exits. Tent occupancy over 1,000 must have 4 exits.
  7. Tents must not block fire hydrants or FDC connections.
  8. Generators must be separated by 20 feet from tents.
  9. No cooking in tents unless separated by 20 feet from any other tent, building and property line.
  10. No food can be served or consumed in a tent used for cooking.
  11. Need 1 portable fire extinguisher (2A:10BC) for every 3,000 square feet of tent or within 75 feet of travel, whichever is greater.
  12. Tents 400 square feet or less (e.g. 20 x 20) not spaced per the above guidelines require a Tent Permit.
  1. If your event is open to the public or is a private event in a venue location where spirits consumption is prohibited except with a special event permit, the City of Tulsa prohibits the consumption of spirits outside of a controlled space, commonly referred to as a "beer garden". Beer and wine may be consumed in public. 
  2. An event venue is an area that has been closed (e.g. street, sidewalk or parking lot) per a City of Tulsa Special Event Permit for the purpose of consumption of beer, wine, spirits and/or food and to provide space for bands, stages, tents, tables, inflatables and vendors, etc.
  3. A designated licensed premise is an area within the event venue for the purpose of consumption of beer, wine, spirits and food, which may include space for tents, bands, stages, tables and vendors, etc. A designated licensed premise is required to prevent guests from leaving the controlled area with beer, wine or spirits or bringing outside beer, wine or spirits into the controlled area. Depending upon the venue, it may also separate guests of a legal drinking age from those who are not. Consumption of spirits outdoors requires a controlled space, commonly referred to as a "beer garden". Beer gardens must be constructed with material or in a manner that prevents spirits from being taken outside the controlled space or brought into the controlled space [e.g. six-foot (6') free standing chain link fence, crowd control barriers referred to as bicycle racks, tents, archways with overhead signage (No One Under 21 Allowed Beyond this Point - No Alcohol Allowed Beyond this Point), trash receptacles and staff, etc.]. Beer gardens are required for spirits but not for beer and wine. However, the event organizer is still responsible to enforce the designated licensed premise for beer and wine not leaving or coming into the controlled space.    
  4. A designated bar area is an area within the designated licensed premise for the purpose of sales and service of beer, wine and spirits. A designated bar area must be constructed with material or in a manner that separate guests of a legal drinking age from those who are not [e.g. roping, tent, including overhead signage (No One Under 21 Allowed Beyond this Point), staff, etc.]
  1. Submit a list of all vendors at the event including business name, contact name, address, and telephone number.
  2. Oklahoma Vendors.Submit copies of sales tax permits of Oklahoma vendors at the event. Vendors must display copies of sales tax permits at the event.
  3. Out of State Vendors. If out of state vendors will be making sales at your event, you must obtain a special event sales tax permit from the Oklahoma Tax Commission and submit a copy of the permit to the City of Tulsa. To obtain a special event sales tax permit, please contact the Oklahoma Tax Commission Special Events Division at (918) 581-2399.
  4. At the conclusion of the event, the Special Events Sales Tax Form needs to be completed and submitted by each vendor.
  1. The number of recyclable containers at special events should be equal to the number of trash containers (a 1:1 ratio).
  2. Recycling and trash containers should be placed next to each other in areas throughout the event venue.
  3. Each recyclable container should be clearly identified as a recycling receptacle and display a list of recyclable materials accepted.
  4. The event organizer can determine the types of recyclables to be collected as long as the recyclables include all aluminum and metal cans, glass (glass is prohibited on public property) and plastic bottles and jars, and all mixed paper and cardboard.
  5. The event organizer must ensure that all recyclable materials are delivered to a recycling facility and notto a landfill. Please contact The M.e.t. at (918) 584-0584. For information go to metrecycle.com.
  1. Unreasonably loud noise at any time of day or night (including music) is a violation of City Ordinance.
  2. A police officer that determines noise from your event is unreasonably disturbing to others may require you to lower the noise even though you have a permit allowing such use.
  3. Generally, sound (music) levels should not exceed 90 decibels 15 feet from the source.
  4. Depending upon any neighborhood complaints, the sound levels may have to be lowered between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Information on City of Tulsa Ordinances is available online.

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!

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