GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS AND PARADES

Fort Worth City Code ch. 20, art. XII, div. 6

in effect

Fort Worth City Code § 20-422 ADDITIONAL PERMITS REQUIRED.

§ 20-422 ADDITIONAL PERMITS REQUIRED. (a) Portable restrooms. (1) All events that provide portable restrooms must indicate on the special event or parade site plan the exact location where the portable restroom(s) shall be placed. (2) If the portable restrooms are not placed at the location designated on the event site plan, the outdoor events manager or his or her designee shall give the applicant oral or written notice to move the portable restroom(s) to the proper location. The applicant must have the portable restroom(s) moved immediately, but in no case later than four hours after notice. Should the applicant fail to meet this requirement, the applicant shall be subject to the penalties set forth in this article. (3) The event site plan shall state the time that the portable restroom(s) shall be removed. In the event that the portable restrooms are not removed by the time set forth in events plan, the applicant shall be subject to the penalties set forth in this article. Where the applicant provides evidence of a good faith effort to have the portable restroom owner remove the portable restrooms in a timely manner, the city shall not subject the applicant to the penalties, but shall instead provide written notice to the portable restroom owner requiring removal of the portable restrooms within 24 hours of receiving the city’s written notice. Should the owner fail to meet this requirement, the owner shall be subject to the penalties set forth in this article. (4) If portable restrooms are placed on public property for an event that is not permitted, the outdoor events manager shall require the owner of the portable restrooms to remove the portable restrooms within 24 hours of receiving the written notice. Should the owner fail to meet this requirement, the owner shall be subject to the penalties set forth in this article. (5) The provisions of this subsection (a) shall not apply to events held entirely on private property, providing placement and use of the portable restrooms are not affecting adjacent property owners or tenants and it meets the requirements of the city code. (b) Alcohol permit. No alcohol may be served and/or sold at any event unless the applicant receives an alcohol permit as required by the Texas alcoholic beverage commission. Permits must be posted and visible to the public. (c) Food permit. It will be responsibility of the applicant to contact the Fort Worth code compliance department, consumer health division, to obtain necessary permits and information on proper dispensing and handling procedures for any food that is being provided or served at the event. (d) Barricades. Each barricade must be staffed at all times during the event with at least one person at least 18 years of age who is wearing a reflective safety vest. (e) Recycling. Recycling at events is strongly encouraged, but is not mandatory. (Ord. 19255-08-2010, § 1, passed 8-3-2010, eff. 10-1-2010)

Fort Worth City Code § 20-423 PROJECTED ATTENDANCE ESTIMATES.

§ 20-423 PROJECTED ATTENDANCE ESTIMATES. For purposes of this article, attendance estimates by the applicant shall be accompanied by an affidavit stating the basis of the estimate. Each estimate shall be based upon all the relevant factors known at the time, including, without limitation, past attendance at similar functions having the same and similar performers, both in the city and comparable communities, the price of admission, if applicable, and the extent of advertising and promotion planned. The city may accept the applicant’s affidavit if it appears to be based on realistic and appropriate information. If the city rejects the attendance estimates, the city shall substitute a reasonably determined estimate for the applicant and the applicant shall be responsible for all attendant costs and requirements associated with the revised estimate. If, for unforeseen reasons, an estimate did not in fact reflect the actual and necessary resources for the event, the city may seek cost recovery from the applicant as determined by the city. (Ord. 19255-08-2010, § 1, passed 8-3-2010, eff. 10-1-2010)

Fort Worth City Code § 20-424 EMERGENCY SERVICES AND FIRE SAFETY, TRAFFIC CONTROL AND PARKING PLANS.

§ 20-424 EMERGENCY SERVICES AND FIRE SAFETY, TRAFFIC CONTROL AND PARKING PLANS. (a) Plans. (1) The applicant for any special event or parade is required to provide an emergency services and fire safety plan, police services plan, traffic control and parking plans, as defined, for the event, and shall be required to provide and pay for firefighter, emergency medical technician, emergency medical personnel and/or ambulance service(s) for such emergency medical and firefighting services. The contents of the emergency services and fire safety plan, police services plan and traffic control and parking plans shall be determined by the anticipated number of attendees at the event per § 20-423. (2) Applicants shall submit their plans to the outdoor events manager 30 days before the applicant’s scheduled pre-event meeting. (3) The emergency services plan must comply with the Fort Worth fire code and the fire department’s street closure guidelines and maintain adequate fire lanes within each closure area. (4) The traffic control and parking plans shall provide traffic and parking controls for the event including the street(s) to be closed and all other streets or public areas in close proximity that may be utilized for alternative routes or for parking of vehicles of persons attending the event. (5) The outdoor events manager, in consultation with the city’s police, fire and transportation and public works departments shall be responsible for determining whether to approve, modify or deny the respective plan. In evaluating the plans, the outdoor events manager shall not take into account any of the factors set forth in § 20-405(b). (b) Compliance with the emergency services and fire safety plan and police services plan. (1) If the outdoor events manager, the chief of police or the fire chief, or their designees determine that the services being provided at the event do not comply with the approved plans and should this determination be the event’s first violation of its approved plans, the outdoor events manager shall contact the applicant or his or her designee and shall provide him or her with one hour in which to bring the emergency services into full compliance with the approved plans. The outdoor events manager, if approved by the chief of police or the fire chief, or their designees, may allow additional time for compliance provided health and safety is not compromised. As soon as possible after this contact, the outdoor events manager shall prepare written detailed documentation of the name of the event contact, the time of the conversation and the corrective action required of the applicant. (2) If the applicant does not comply in a timely manner, the city shall provide the necessary services and will include the full cost of providing these services in a supplemental services fee. (3) If the violation is event’s second or greater violation of its approved plan, the city may provide the necessary services without giving the applicant an opportunity to take corrective action, and the city will include the full cost of providing these services in a supplemental services fee. As soon as possible after finding the violation, the outdoor events manager shall prepare written detailed documentation of the nature of the violation and the corrective action taken by the city. (4) If the chief of police or the fire chief, or their designees, determine that the emergency services being provided at the event are not sufficient, given the actual circumstances of the event, the applicant or his or her designee shall be notified of such determination. The chief of police, or the fire chief, or their designees, using their sole judgment regarding the immediacy of the need to have additional emergency services, shall determine whether to allow the applicant to provide additional emergency services or whether to have the city provide additional emergency services. As soon as possible after the contact with the applicant or his or her designee, the chief of police or the fire chief, or their designees, shall prepare written detailed documentation of the name of the event contact, the time of the conversation, the findings of the chief of police or the fire chief, or their designees regarding the need for additional emergency services, the corrective action required, and who will provide the corrective action. This written documentation shall be provided to the outdoor events manager within five business days after the conclusion of the event. Where the city provides the additional emergency services, the city will include the full cost of providing these services in a supplemental services fee. (5) Should the violator or applicant not comply in a timely manner with the corrective action plan required by the fire inspector, a stop work or stop operating order shall be given to the violator and applicant or his or her designee. The stop work or stop operating order shall stay in effect until the violator or applicant comes into full compliance. (c) The emergency services and fire safety plan and police services plan for events with 1,000 or greater anticipated attendees. (1) Pursuant to Homeland Security, a detailed site plan indicating proposed vehicle ingress and egress, medical treatment areas, public areas including fences and gates, all temporary structures, management offices, cooking areas, locations of all fuels that will be used and/or stored, including without limitation gas, and whether pyrotechnics or other special effects are planned; and (2) The staffing plan for emergency medical personnel and fire inspectors, to include the number of each that the applicant plans to have at the event. (Ord. 19255-08-2010, § 1, passed 8-3-2010, eff. 10-1-2010; Ord. 19373-09-2010, § 6, passed 9-28-2010)

Fort Worth City Code § 20-425 GATING AND FENCING OF EVENTS.

§ 20-425 GATING AND FENCING OF EVENTS. No event, except gated events located in a city park shall be fenced with perimeter fencing or gated. No fencing shall be allowed on any street or sidewalk. Fencing of VIP areas, private property and at the start and finish lines during walks, runs and races shall be allowed, but the square footage of the fenced area shall be subject to occupancy loads as determined by the fire chief and shall be limited to 10% of the event area. The percentage of fenced area may be increased based on the size and location of the event with the approval of the director of public events after consultation with the outdoor events manger, the chief of police and the fire chief. (Ord. 19255-08-2010, § 1, passed 8-3-2010, eff. 10-1-2010)

Fort Worth City Code § 20-426 PROHIBITED CONDUCT DURING EVENTS.

§ 20-426 PROHIBITED CONDUCT DURING EVENTS. For all events, it shall be unlawful for any person to do any of the following acts, or to permit a minor child in his or her custody to do any of the following acts in the event area: (a) (1) Ride, drive or operate golf carts, bicycles, motorcycles, mopeds or any other motor vehicles, or ride skateboards or skates, unless part of the event. Bicycles, skateboards and mopeds may be carried into or walked through the event area. At no time will any event approved vehicle, golf cart, fork lift or other motor vehicle be driven on city sidewalks; and (2) This provision shall not apply to emergency medical personnel, officials or employees of the city acting in their official capacity, vendors restocking their merchandise, vendors providing sanitation services for the event or to the event workers. (b) Bring in, carry or in any way possess, play or operate any bull horns, radio, musical instrument or similar device which is producing or reproducing sound in such a manner as to be plainly audible to other persons in the event area, other than the operator of the device. This provision shall not apply to persons performing in the event. All radios and musical devices with earphones are permitted; (c) Bring in, carry or in any way possess glass bottles, glass jars or glass containers of any kind, unless such glass container in a vial is required to hold medication needed and utilized by an event participant where the medication is customarily stored in a glass vial or unless specifically authorized by the outdoor events manager for authorized event vendors; (d) Carry or possess spray paint cans unless specifically authorized in writing by the outdoor events manager for authorized event vendors; (e) Engage in the sale or distribution of goods. This provision shall not apply to authorized event vendors; (f) Engage in the act of performing unless the performer is an authorized event vendor; (g) Engage in outdoor cooking in any area except an area designated for grilling by the city or an approved event site plan. This provision shall not apply to authorized event vendors; (h) Be in possession of any alcoholic beverage at an event located on public property, unless the alcoholic beverage was purchased or otherwise obtained from an authorized vendor of the event; and (i) If the applicant has previously advertised the prohibition of dogs or animals at the event, no dogs or other animals, other than service animals, shall be allowed in the event area. All dogs or other animals must be licensed, have current rabies vaccination tags, remain on leash while in the event area and under voice control of their owners at all times. At the request of the applicant, the outdoor events manager or his or her designee, any dog or animal exhibiting aggressive behavior must be removed immediately from the event area. Owners shall be liable for damage or injury inflicted by their animals. (Ord. 19255-08-2010, § 1, passed 8-3-2010, eff. 10-1-2010; Ord. 19373-09-2010, § 7, passed 9-28-2010)

Fort Worth City Code § 20-427 RETENTION OF PERMIT.

§ 20-427 RETENTION OF PERMIT. The applicant or his or her designee shall be present during the entire event, and shall produce the permit upon demand during the event, including set-up and break-down. The applicant shall be responsible for providing the outdoor events manager or any other city employee the permit upon request and the contact number of the person carrying the permit if other than the applicant. (Ord. 19255-08-2010, § 1, passed 8-3-2010, eff. 10-1-2010)

Fort Worth City Code § 20-428 SECURITY DEPOSIT.

§ 20-428 SECURITY DEPOSIT. (a) An applicant for a special event or parade shall pay a security deposit fee to insure compliance with all permit requirements upon submission of the application. The deposit shall be used to recover any costs that are incurred by the city. The city has sole discretion over the determination of the condition of the site. Neighborhood event, neighborhood parade or First Amendment event permits are exempted from this provision. (b) The holder of the permit shall reimburse the city for additional direct costs in excess of the security deposit that are incurred by the city in providing services at the event; direct costs include but are not limited to, the reasonable costs of setup, cleanup, electrical services, construction and other related services beyond what the city would provide to the general public in the ordinary course of its daily operations that exceed the security deposit. (c) The deposit will be refunded in full by the outdoor events manager not later than 30-calendar days after the event if the site is left in as good or better condition than before the event. The city has the sole discretion regarding the determination of the condition of the site. (Ord. 19255-08-2010, § 1, passed 8-3-2010, eff. 10-1-2010)

Fort Worth City Code § 20-429 SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICE FEES.

§ 20-429 SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICE FEES. (a) If a police officer is required to respond to an event and while at the scene determines that there is a threat to public peace, health, safety or general welfare, the applicant responsible for the event shall be liable for supplemental service fees. (b) If the city is required to respond to an event due to lack of traffic-control devices as established by the traffic control plan or as required by the city’s police department, the applicant shall be responsible for all related costs. Such charge constitutes a debt of the responsible person and is collectible by the city in the same manner as in the case of an obligation under a contract. (c) The costs of a response shall be waived if the applicant initiates a request for police response and cooperates with the police. (d) Costs imposed under this provision are due and payable in accordance with the user agreement as described in this article. (e) The applicant can appeal the costs by filing an appeal pursuant to the provisions of this article. Failure of the applicant to file an appeal shall constitute a waiver of the right to an appeal under this article or to challenge the validity or amount of the costs imposed. (Ord. 19255-08-2010, § 1, passed 8-3-2010, eff. 10-1-2010)

Fort Worth City Code § 20-430 TENT REQUIREMENTS.

§ 20-430 TENT REQUIREMENTS. Tents, canopies and membrane structures shall be regulated by Chapter 24 of the city’s adopted fire code. (Ord. 19255-08-2010, § 1, passed 8-3-2010, eff. 10-1-2010)

Fort Worth City Code § 20-431 USE OF CITY LOGO OR NAME.

§ 20-431 USE OF CITY LOGO OR NAME. An applicant may not use or allow its event to use the words “City of Fort Worth,” “The City of Fort Worth” or the city’s logo or a combination thereof in any manner that would imply an official endorsement of the event by the city without written authorization from the city manager. (Ord. 19255-08-2010, § 1, passed 8-3-2010, eff. 10-1-2010)

Fort Worth City Code § 20-432 USER AGREEMENT.

§ 20-432 USER AGREEMENT. (a) The applicant shall enter into a user agreement with the city prior to the event, in which the applicant agrees to bear all costs of clean up and restoration of the public property upon the conclusion of the event and to reimburse the city for costs related to any damage or use beyond normal wear and tear on the public property. The user agreement shall require the applicant to provide full reimbursement to the city within 60 calendar days of the conclusion of the permitted event. The assessed reimbursement amount shall be subject to the procedures for appeal contained in this article. (b) The user agreement shall include the following: (1) Indemnification. Applicant shall assume full responsibility and liability for and indemnifies, defends and holds the city harmless against: a. All liability, claims for damages and suits for or by reason of any injury to any person, including death, and damage to any property for every cause in any way connected with the holding of the event, including the preparation, set-up, teardown and cleanup; and b. All expenses incurred by the city for public safety, sanitation and transportation personnel and resources required to preserve public order and protect public health, safety and welfare, together with any other expenses or costs that may be incurred by the city as a result of the event. The applicant shall indemnify the city against all charges, expenses and costs, including the city’s legal department services incurred on account of or by reason of any such injuries, damages, liability, claims, suits or losses and all damages growing out of the same. (2) Insurance. a. When required by the city, an applicant must provide to the outdoor events manager, a certificate of commercial general liability insurance listing the City of Fort Worth as an additional named insured in the amounts prescribed by the risk manager or designee. b. An applicant for a permit to hold an event where alcohol is to be sold must provide to the outdoor events manager a certificate of insurance in the amount of $1,000,000 as liquor liability insurance, in addition to the general liability insurance requirements. c. Federal, state and local government agencies may submit a statement of self-insurance which shall be acceptable in place of insurance requirements of this section. (c) Execution of a user agreement shall be waived for First Amendment events that do not involve the use of motor vehicles. (Ord. 19255-08-2010, § 1, passed 8-3-2010, eff. 10-1-2010)

Source: City of Fort Worth, Code of Ordinances, City Charter and Zoning Ordinance (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/ftworth/latest/ftworth_tx/0-0-0-23501Fetched: 10/26/2026