Event control plan required.
Houston Code of Ordinances § 25-164
in effectSec. 25-164. - Event control plan required.
(a) Outdoor music events must comply with an event control plan that has been approved by the MOSE director in coordination with the Houston police chief, the Houston fire chief, the EMS medical director, and the local health authority. The venue operator and the outdoor music event organizer are responsible for operating an outdoor music event in compliance with an approved event control plan.
(b) The MOSE director, in consultation with the affected directors, shall promulgate rules, regulations, and criteria to evaluate event control plans required for outdoor music events.
(c) All control plans shall be subject to review, approval, and appeal in the same manner as a permit application under this article.
(d) An event control plan for outdoor music events must include the following:
(1) Security and crowd control information that includes:
a. The number, location, and responsibilities of security personnel, including the provider/agency and command structure;
b. The number, location, and responsibilities of crowd management personnel;
c. The security coordinator's name, agency name, phone number(s), and contact information;
d. The hours security personnel will be on site;
e. Incident report procedures;
f. Plans to control crowd circulation including signage, barricades, and corrals, as applicable;
g. Plans for outdoor queuing for event entry;
h. Plans for queuing for food, beverages, merchandise, and other similar products and services;
i. The number and location of metal detectors, if any;
j. Emergency contingencies, including event stoppage and evacuation;
k. The names, street addresses, mailing addresses, electronic mailing addresses, and telephone number of an emergency contact person or persons who can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in the event of an emergency condition involving the outdoor music event, and who will be physically present at the event throughout its duration; and
(2) Site plan information that includes:
a. All ingress, egress, and circulation of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, including emergency access for emergency responders;
b. A description of the square footage that will be accessible to the attendees immediately surrounding the performance area(s);
c. The total available standing room square footage area within the outdoor music event space;
d. The location of all tents;
e. Information required by the Fire Code, including but not limited to any planned use of combustibles, flammables, and pyrotechnics, and their locations;
f. Fire hydrant locations;
g. Locations of event exits and emergency exits; and
h. Street functions, if applicable.
(3) If the event may affect traffic on a public street, a written proposal for the operation and regulation of traffic control devices used to facilitate vehicular and pedestrian traffic safely and efficiently through a temporary traffic control zone which must be prepared in conformance with the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
(4) First aid and medical information that includes:
a. Name of providers, including command structure;
b. Number and location of medical personnel and first aid and medical stations;
c. Routes of ingress and egress for all emergency vehicles;
d. Safety precautions for adverse weather events;
e. Location of signage directing the public to first aid and medical stations;
f. Accident/incident report procedures; and
g. Confirmation that the number of first aid and medical resources meet or exceed, as calculated, the suggested resource requirements detailed in the tables of the Event Safety Alliance's The Event Safety Guide's section on Medical, Ambulance, and First-Aid Management.
(5) If the outdoor music event will include the sale or service of alcohol, the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission ("TABC") license number and TABC temporary approval and whether attendees may bring their own alcohol for consumption at the venue;
(6) Food safety permits and protocols; and
(7) Noise abatement strategies, including a sound permit.
(e) Minimum number of exits required:
Attendance load | Minimum number of exits | Minimum width of each exit (inches)
500 to 999 | 4 | 96
1,000 to 1,999 | 5 | 120
2,000 to 2,999 | 6 | 120
Over 3,000* | 7 | 120
*When the attendance load exceeds 3,000, the total width of exit space in inches shall not be less than the total attendance load multiplied by 0.2 inches per person.
(Ord. No. 2022-958, § 5, 12-7-2022)
Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH25SPEV_ARTVOUMUEVPRPREN_S25-164EVCOPLREFetched: 10/26/2026