SPECIAL EVENT PERMITS

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  2. Fri Jan. 1

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  3. Mon Jan. 18

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​Santa Clara County Health Officer - Mandatory Directive for Gatherings Issued on: July 14, 2020
Revised: November 16, 2020


While COVID-19 is still circulating in our community, outdoor gatherings are allowed as long as everyone attending the outdoor gathering complies with the requirements from the Santa Clara County Health Office to reduce risk and keep everyone who attends as safe as possible. 

In general, the more people a person interacts with at a gathering, the closer the physical interaction is, and the longer the interaction lasts, the higher the risk that a person with an unknown COVID-19 infection might spread it to others. If not everyone follows the rules to safely gather, the risk of spreading COVID-19 is even higher. 

The Health Officer's directives for all gathering are: 
  1. Gather ONLY outdoors.
  2. Don't attend gatherings if you feel sick or you are in a high-risk group. If you feel sick, have any COVID-19-like symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath, body aches), stay home and do not attend any gatherings.
  3. Practice Social Distancing and Hand Hygiene. Everyone must stay at least 6 feet away from each other (except people in their own household) at all times.
  4. Wear a Face Covering to keep COVID-19 from spreading. People at outdoor gatherings may remove their face coverings to eat or drink, and put their face covering back on as soon as they are finished.
  5. The maximum number of people allowed at an outdoor gathering of ANY TYPE is 200 people or less.
For a complete list of guidelines, please make sure to visit the Santa Clara County Public Health website and review all mandatory directives for gatherings before considering organizing an event and submitting a Special Event Permit Application. 

A special event is required if any of the following conditions meet the requirements:

  • Large Scale Meeting
  • Concert
  • Live music
  • Assembly
  • Fundraiser
  • Blocking of Streets
  • Parade or Procession
  • Use of sound amplifying system of any kind or any other similar display 

For additional details and or examples to determine if your event requires a Special Event Permit, refer to the Special Events and Block Party Brochure in the Resources column.

A SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT needs to be applied for at least 30 days prior to the event date. 

SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT PROCESS:

  1. Obtain a Special Event Permit Application.
  2. If renting a City Park, call the Recreation Department (408) 846-0460, Park Rentals  first and process a reservation.
  3. Complete the Special Event Permit Application Form. Complete pages 1 and 2, sign page 4 and 5 if applicable, and attach a site plan. Include a traffic control plan and neighborhood notification plan if blocking streets. If you are using any Public Property a Certificate of Insurance naming the City of Gilroy as also insured, including an Endorsement page, must be provided.
  4. Turn in the form 30 days prior to the event date. The completed application can be email to Christina.Ruiz@cityofgilroy.org.
  5. If there is additional information requested or the application was found incomplete you will be contacted via email and asked to make the application complete. If the application was approved you will be emailed or contacted to pay any fees and/or provide any additional documents such as a Temporary Health Permit, ABC License, Business License, etc.
  6. For final processing, pay any fees due to the Finance Department. Form of payment by credit card, please call the Finance Department at (408) 846-0420 or by check mailed to: Attn: Business Licensing/Special Events Permits, City of Gilroy, 7351 Rosanna St, Gilroy, CA 95020. You will then receive an emailed copy of your Final Special Event Permit.

ANY PUBLIC event that sells or distributes food shall follow the County Department of Health Food Safety Requirements and obtain permits from them as required. Call County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health at 408-918-3400 for temporary event food permitting information.