Hartford city officials are proposing a sweeping rewrite of the city’s special events ordinance that would centralize oversight of festivals, parades, athletic events and other gatherings under the chief operating officer, while establishing a new fee structure for permits and city services.
The proposed ordinance, submitted by Mayor Arunan Arulampalam’s administration, would generally require event organizers to apply at least 90 days in advance, though the chief operating officer could consider certain late applications for good cause, and give the chief operating officer authority over permit approvals, denials and revocations.
Political rallies, protests and demonstrations would be exempt.
A companion fee resolution would set permit costs based on event size, ranging from $100 for gatherings with fewer than 100 attendees to $1,000 for major events with 2,000 or more attendees. The proposed fees are lower than current approximate rates in several categories, according to city documents.
A late filing fee would increase from $25 to $50.
Organizers would also be responsible for certain city service costs, which may be required at the city’s discretion, including police coverage at $78 per hour, fire services at $112.79 per hour, and various public works services, with three-hour minimums in many cases. The proposal also requires deposits to cover anticipated city service costs and potential property damage.
City officials said the changes are intended to create a more orderly and predictable process for managing special events. A public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for May 18.
