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Planning Guide – Emerging Special Event

A one off or recurring sporting, cultural or other type of special event that impacts the municipality or a specific community and attracts mostly domestic visitors and has moderate local media coverage, economic and business benefit for the host destination.

Characteristics may include but not be limited to:

  • Use of single local venue or site;
  • Expected attendance between 1000 and 200,000;
  • Single level of government coordination; 
  • Cost of between $1,500 and $50,000 in City services, staff time and equipment use; and
  • Promotes the City of Toronto within the event's marketing campaign.

Example 4: A local BIA wishes to host a new street festival to celebrate a cultural holiday. They wish to close the main street, serve food, have a beer garden, and entertainment including bands, buskers and a few carnival rides.  The street has a bus route and metered street parking.

Based on this information, the group would be required to:

  • Obtain a Transportation – Temporary Street Closure Permit
  • Provide a Certificate of Insurance to facilitate the Street Closure
  • Notify impacted residents and business of the street closure
  • Provide potential street closure signs and road barricades, depending on the nature of the street
  • Submit a Toronto Fire Street Closure Application to ensure emergency access
  • Submit a Public Health Temporary Food Establishment Application
  • Ensure BBQ's are operated within safety standards
  • Create a Site map of the proposed venue for submission with your application
  • Contact City of Toronto Clerks office in writing and have the process to have your event declared an "Event of Municipal Significance" prior to applying to the AGCO for a Special Occasion's Permit to allow the service of Alcohol
  • Contact the AGCO and apply for a Special Occasion's Permit (SOP) to allow the service of Alcohol
  • Contact the Toronto Police Paid Duty office once you have received your SOP and book any Paid Duty officers that may be required
  • If using amplified sound, contact Municipal Licensing and Standards and apply for a Noise By-law exemption (if required, based on hours of operations)
  • Develop a Solid Waste Management Plan
  • For amusement rides to be considered for use at a special event/festival you must obtain the appropriate Technical Standards and Safety Association (TSSA) Certification and Insurance OR make sure your supplier has these
  • Discuss buyout of Metered parking with Toronto Parking Authority
  • Contact the TTC and discuss rerouting of Buses on this route (fees may apply)

Download the Site Map (PDF)

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