• 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.
• Event Hours: Weekdays: 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Weekends and holidays: 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Event hours for activities which are protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution: one hour, on weekdays, between 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. These times include set-up time.

• Applicant is authorized by the businesses on the block to apply for this permit. The applicant will need to submit a completed application. 
• Approval: The City of Minneapolis Regulatory Services reviews the application to ensure it meets all conditions. Incomplete applications will be returned.
• Denial: 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.
• Appeals: If permit is not approved by one or more of 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.

• Requirements: Both ends of the street must be blocked. The applicant is responsible for the placement, maintenance and removal of the barricades.
• Barricades: The applicant shall through a bona fide contractor provide, install and remove all the equipment as stipulated by the Director of Public Works (see Bonds).
• Traffic Control Measures: Applicant is required to pay all costs for traffic control measures and traffic control personnel.

• A permit may be granted only after the applicant has filed with the City Council, a cash bond in the sum of $500, or a certified check in a like amount. Applications submitted without the bond will be returned to the applicant.
• If the applicant fails to clean up the area within three-hour period following the event, the bond shall be forfeited to the city
• If the applicant complies with the above conditions to the satisfaction of the Director of Public Works, the bond shall be returned or balance refunded.

• The applicant must file with the City Council a liability insurance policy, or evidence thereof. Applications filed without insurance will be returned to the applicant.
• Insurance must provide coverage in the amount of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000.00) for one claimant and one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) for any number of claimants.
• Insurance shall specifically provide for the payment by the insurance company, on behalf of the insured, of all sums which the insured shall become obligated to pay by reason of liability imposed upon them by law, for injuries or damages to persons or property arising out of the activities and operations of the insured pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 455 of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances.
• The applicant and the City shall be named as joint insured's on the liability policy.

• Claims: Applicant agrees to defend and hold the City harmless from claims, demands, actions or causes of actions, of any nature of character, arising out of, or by reason of conduct of the block event authorized by such permit, including attorney fees and all 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.
• 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 because of the block event. If the applicant neglects or fails to proceed with the 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 cleanup and charge the applicant for said cost.
• Alcohol: Applicant agrees not to permit the sale or consumption of intoxicating liquors, without first obtaining the appropriate liquor license. Contact Business Licenses

The following tips will help make your online application experience successful:

• Make sure you have access to a printer. You will want to print your receipt if you choose to pay online. Or, if you choose not to pay online, you’ll be asked to print a fee statement to mail with your payment.
• Have ready your event location, date (and rain date), time and description of activities.
• Have ready your list of neighbors (name and address) who have been contacted and given approval for the event (to meet your residential approval requirement).
• Make sure you understand the fee schedule for residential block events. The online form will calculate your fee based on the date you apply and the date you plan to hold your event.

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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:
• 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.

• 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. If amplifying equipment will be used an Outdoor Amplified Sound Permit is required. 
  • Learn about Outdoor Amplified Sound Permit
  • Read Sound Permit Ordinance
• Alcohol: Serving alcohol to others is not recommended due to liability issues for the provider.