Residential Block Permit:
Conditions and Instructions
Important: If you are closing a street for National Night Out, see the National Night Out website for information about registering your event and applying for a permit.
Fees and Deadlines
Fees for residential block events are listed below. For applications received by mail or in person, payment is due at the time of application. For all other applications, correct payment and copy of application must be received within three (3) business days of the submission of the application. Applications will not be considered complete and will not be processed until payment is received.
This fee schedule does not apply to National Night Out events. See the National Night Out page for more information.
Fee | Days prior to event date. |
$25 | 35 or more |
$40 | 22 to 34 |
$60 | 15 to 21 |
$160 | 7 to 14 |
$200 | 4 business to 6 calendar days |
Schedule of Event
- Event Dates: The Permit is valid only for the date specified. In case of bad weather, the permit may be extended to the following day only if requested as a Rain Date on the application. Rain date must be the following day.
- Event Hours: The event can be held only between the hours of 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.; this includes set-up time and take-down time. Do not close the street before 10 a.m. Street must be re-opened with clean-up complete by 10 p.m.
Street Closure
• Requirements: Both ends of the street must be blocked. City ordinance requires that at least a ten-foot aisle be kept unobstructed at all times to permit emergency vehicles or disabled individuals to enter or exit. This requirement includes access at the end of the block at the barricade area as well as an unobstructed aisle along the entire block.
• Barricades: Wooden barricades are used for all residential block events, except National Night Out. Public Works will deliver the barricades at no charge. See the National Night Out website for more information about street closure requirements for these events.
Application Process
- Applicant is a resident or property owner in the area designated and is authorized by the other residents on the block to apply for this permit.
- Resident approval: The applicant must affirm on the application form, an affidavit that 75% of the residents on the block have been contacted and approve the event.
- Approval: The city reviews the application to ensure it meets all conditions. Incomplete applications will be returned. Due to the volume of requests received during the summer months, it may take some time to process your application. If you have not received your permit within 5 days of the date of your event, please contact:
- For Residential Block Events: blockevents@minneapolismn.gov
- For National Night Out Events: ccpsafe@minneapolismn.gov
- Denial: A permit may be denied for a variety of reasons including construction, proximity to a hospital or fire station, conflict with a previously scheduled event within four blocks. A permit cannot be issued for a major thoroughfare (generally, this would include snow emergency routes; arterial streets; federal, state and county highways; bus routes and streets controlled by semaphores) unless traffic flow can be reasonably accommodated on adjacent streets. If traffic flow cannot be accommodated on adjacent streets, the applicant may be required to pay for traffic control measures and traffic control personnel.
- Appeals: If the permit is not approved by the designated City officials, a written objection, along with the permit application, shall, upon request by applicant be referred to the appropriate City Council committee, which will make a recommendation to the City Council.
- Revocation: A permit may be revoked for any violation of the block event provisions or in the event of an emergency constituting an imminent threat to life or property. Whenever any block event is of a nature, or conducted in a manner substantially different from that indicated in the application, the block event shall be deemed to be automatically revoked.
- Fees and Deadlines: All residential block event fees and corresponding timelines are listed in the block event ordinance. If the application is returned to the applicant because of incomplete information, the application fee will be based on the postmark or date stamp of the corrected application.
Conditions and Restrictions
- Type of Event: Event cannot be a commercial promotion or activity.
- Claims: Applicant agrees to defend and hold the City harmless from claims, demands, actions or causes of actions, of any nature or character, arising out of or by reason of conduct of the block event authorized by such permit, including attorney fees and al expenses.
- Damages: Applicant will indemnify the City for all damages that may result to City property, including any portion of such street, as a result of the block event.
- Emergency Access: City ordinance requires that at least a ten-foot aisle be kept unobstructed at all times to permit emergency vehicles or disabled vehicles to enter or exit. This requirement includes access at the end of the block at the barricade areas as well as an unobstructed aisle along the entire block.
- Supervision: Applicant will maintain adult supervision of the block event at all times.
- Clean Up: Applicant will, at no cost to the City, immediately clean up, remove and dispose of all litter or material of any kind, which is placed or left on the street or sidewalk within any of the blocks immediately surrounding the block in which the event is to be held. If the applicant neglects or fails to clean up within the three-hour period immediately following the end of the block event, or if the cleanup is done in an inadequate manner, the City Engineer is authorized to clean up and charge the applicant for the cost.
- Music: Applicant agrees not to play or allow to be played any music or other sound produced by amplifying equipment for more than a total of three (3) hours. If amplifying equipment will be used longer than three (3) hours, an outdoor sound amplifying permit is required. Click to download an Application Form (pdf) or call (612) 673-5987 to have a form faxed or mailed to you.
- Alcohol: Serving alcohol to others is not recommended due to liability issues for the provider.
Non-Profit Organization Events
All block event requests from non-profit organizations located in a residential area must be reviewed by Regulatory Services to determine whether the event will be considered a business district event or a residential block event. Please call (612) 673-2080 prior to submitting an application.
An application from a non-profit organization located in a residential area will have to comply with the conditions and procedures applicable to a business district application unless the following conditions have been met:
- The block (special event) will have fewer than 100 people in attendance
- More than 50% of the people expected to attend the event have residences which abut the portion of the street where the event is to take place
- No food or beverages will be sold at the event
- The applicant is a resident or property owner of property which abuts the street where the event is to take place or is the director, executive, board member of the non-profit organization.
Last updated Mar. 8, 2012