Special Events Advisory Committee

If a community group, organization or individual wish to host an event or festival, appropriate documents must be submitted to the City of St. John’s. 

Events or festivals include, but are not limited to, block parties, concerts, festivals, road races, parades, etc.

Please click here for information on weddings in City Parks. Weddings are not considered part of the Special Event Application process.

Event organizers in the City of St. John’s are required to submit a Special Event Application for all outdoor event approvals. The application is reviewed by the Special Event Advisory Committee (SEAC) and approvals are provided via a Letter of Permit. The Special Event Permit process helps to ensure that all City departments, and external agencies, required to provide services are aware of and prepared for potential conditions arising from the event, i.e. traffic control.

Special Event Application
Special Event Policy and Procedures Manual

The City of St. John's supports inclusive and accessible events. Please refer to the Outdoor Event Inclusion & Accessability Checklist as a guideline to assist in your event planning and delivery. For additional information or to provide feedback contact the City's Inclusion staff at inclusion@stjohns.ca or 709-576-4450.

The SEAC advises Organizers of the policies and procedures to be followed in order to receive approval by the City of St. John’s in compliance with all applicable Federal, Provincial and Municipal legislation and regulations.

The SEAC will review the application and provide assistance to the Organizer in meeting all policy requirements. The SEAC will forward recommendations to Council and if approved a Special Events Permit will be issued to the Organizer. City officials or the SEAC may, at any time, cancel the Special Events Permit for reasons of non-compliance with these regulations and/or in the interest of public safety.

The Special Event Advisory Committee is comprised of representatives from various City departments as well as external government and volunteer agencies:

City of St. John's:
Council Representative
Corporate Risk and Recovery Division
Events & Services Division
Parking Services Division
Parks & Open Spaces Division
Planning & Development Division
Roads & Traffic Division
St. John's Regional Fire Department

External Agencies:
Eastern Health
Service NL
NL Liquor Corporation
Royal Newfoundland Constabulary
St. John Ambulance