Please be advised that the DCASE Special Events Application is exclusively designated for festivals and athletic events. Marketing activations are NOT permitted on public rights of way. Should you wish to conduct a marketing activation and obtain the City's permission, it must be situated on private land. Sidewalks and streets are strictly prohibited for marketing activities. For those seeking to host activities, Chicago Park District properties are available for such purposes. We kindly ask that you reach out to them directly for further assistance. Thank you for your cooperation.
DCASE processes Special Events applications for outdoor festivals, street and art/craft fairs and athletic events. Special Event Permits are subject to both the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois health and safety guidelines. All events must follow guidelines in place at the time of the event.
In addition, new or moved events requiring support of the following police districts (1, 18, 12 and 14) will be heavily scrutinized due to a saturation of events in these areas.
Lack of appropriate resources to support your event is one of the reasons your permit could be denied. In the event that your permit is denied, city staff will provide their best effort to help you find a better date.
**Dates have been expanded to include August 16-25. Due to Chicago proudly hosting the Democratic National Convention, there will be increased demand for City resources to ensure its success including public safety and security. Special events requiring City services during this period may be asked to provide additional private resources or may be denied, in which case City staff will make every effort to help you find an alternative date.
​Applications must be completed in full with supporting attachments to prevent delays in processing. Contact SEPermits@cityofchicago.org with any questions.
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