The City of Topeka is proud to host numerous events every year. Our goal is to assist event organizers in planning safe and successful events that have minimal impact on the communities surrounding the event. Keep in mind, each special event planned is important to the City of Topeka, whether it’s a small neighborhood block party or a large parade.
What type of application do you need? Flowchart
The Administrative Regulations may be applied during the process of reviewing and approving special event applications. Regulations that will be considered include (1) Reducing Length of Street Closure (2) Using Alternative Streets (3) Notice to Surrounding Property Owners and (4) Consideration of Noise.
If your event location is the State Capitol area, please contact the Capitol Police at 785-296-3420.
Please ensure approval of your special event application by the city before you announce your activity. Acceptance of the application by the city is neither a guarantee of the date or location nor an automatic approval of your event.
Venues
FAQ
You will need a Special Event Permit if you are planning an organized activity involving the use of, or having an impact on, public property, facilities, public parks, sidewalks, or street areas. (e.g. neighborhood block parties, parades, running events)
The City of Topeka suggests the best possible days and times be utilized to minimize the impact on public safety, traffic, and surrounding neighborhoods. For example, when planning an event downtown, please consider scheduling the event on a weekend or during non-business hours in the evening.
The route must be clear to indicate the event site location, stage/entertainment areas, food, game and sales booths, parking areas, restroom facilities and street closures with a list of specific street names and locations of barricades. A map description must show the location of the barricaded portion of the city right-of-way and any cross streets that could be affected with the street closure.
The City of Topeka does not provide the barricades needed for an event. Below is a list of companies that can provide you with more information on barricade rentals. You are to ensure accessibility for the Topeka Fire and Police Departments and the safety of all attendees when barricading the event area. You also agree to assign a person from your organization to the barricaded area to assure proper closure. The person assigned to this barricade is to remain at the barricade for the duration of the street closure. You agree to notify all businesses which are located on the streets of your event about the event times and dates.
- If your event is a Neighborhood Block Party, Type III barricades are required.
- If your event is a large parade, Type III barricades or water barricades will be required. Please call the Topeka Police Department at 785-368-9015 for further information.
- Barricade Rental Information:
Mather Flare: 785-478-3780
C-Hawkk: 785-542-1800
Traffic Control Services, Inc.: 785-448-0402
If an event organizer has concerns their event may trigger noise complaints, they should seek an noise exception.
Noise exceptions are sponsored by your city council member and approved at a regularly scheduled council meeting which are usually the first three Tuesdays of each month. Please take the council meeting schedule into consideration when submitting your Special Event application to allow time for processing. The following information is needed for a noise exception resolution:
- Name, Address and Phone Number for Contact Information
- Location of the event
- Date(s) and Time(s) of event
- Type of amplified noise (Examples: Live Band, Speaker, DJ)
The City requires an event that is serving alcohol/cereal malt beverages to submit the special event application no less than 60 business days before the event date. If alcohol will be sold as part of a special event in the City Right-Of-Way, an alcohol resolution approved by the council is required. The resolution is sponsored by your city council member and approved at a regularly scheduled council meeting. Please take the council meeting schedule and the Kansas Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s application timelines into consideration when submitting your special event application to allow time for processing.
The seller is required to have an Alcohol Beverage License. For more information on regulations, you can access the Kansas Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) website or call 785-296-7015.
Who is your council member?
The seller is required to have an Alcohol Beverage License. For more information on regulations, you can access the Kansas Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) website or call 785-296-7015.
Who is your council member?
- A Hold Harmless Agreement may be used in lieu of a Certificate of Liability Insurance for a block party exclusively serving food in the City right-of-way.
- A Certificate of Liability Insurance is needed for all events with the exception of block parties listing the City of Topeka as an additional insured in the amount of $500,000.
A debris deposit is required for each special event (Block parties are excluded from this requirement). The purpose of the deposit is to ensure that normal traffic flow and access is restored to the area in a prompt manner and that the site(s) is returned to its former condition (normal wear and tear excepted). If not, the deposit will be forfeited and approval of special event permits may be withheld in the future.
Deposits are determined as follows:
Deposits are determined as follows:
- $250 – Less than 5,000 people in attendance
- $500 – More than 5,000 people in attendance
- All other associated clean-up must be completed within 12 hours after the ending time noted on the event permit.
- A post-event inspection will be conducted by city staff, if all cleanup requirements have been met you will receive a refund within two (2) weeks.
- Advertising Your Event – Pursuant to TMC 9.10.010: NO Posting or Affixing of Event Advertisements on Public Property (parking meters, lampposts, utility poles, traffic control device, etc.)
- 60 Business Days (12 weeks) if the event is serving alcohol beverages (Governing Body approval may be necessary)
- 45 Business Days (8 weeks) if your event occurs on a holiday (Recognized holidays include New Year’s Day, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)
- 30 Business Days (6 weeks) if the event occurs on any day that is NOT a holiday
- 20 Business Days (4 weeks) if the event is a block party
City Clerk's Office
215 SE 7th Street, Room 166
Topeka, Kansas 66603
Fax Number: 785-368-3943
cclerk@topeka.org
Once you have completed and submitted your application, City staff will review your application. Once this review is complete, the City Clerk's office will issue the Special Event Permit for your event. If you have any questions during the application process, please contact the City Clerk at 785-368-3940 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
City representatives
| Name | Department | Phone | |
| Keya Downing | City Clerk’s Office | 785-368-3940 | cclerk@topeka.org |
| Jeff Sloan | Topeka Police Department | 785-368-9576 | jsloan@topeka.org |
| Adam Appelhanz | Topeka Fire Department | 785 368-4144 | ajappelh@topeka.org |
| Uvaniga Kandaswamy | Traffic Engineering Division | 785-368-9439 | ukandaswamy@topeka.org |
| Todd Workman | Street Operations Division | 785-368-0128 | tworkman@topeka.org |
| Jenn Howey | Parking Division | 785- 368-2584 | jhowey@topeka.org |
| Mathew Mullen | City Attorney’s Office | 785-368-9529 | mwmullen@topeka.org |