Thank you for choosing to host your outdoor event in Dayton! The City of Dayton offers assistance to help you through the permitting process.

Larger events can require multiple permits from different City departments. The City offers a pre-application meeting as an opportunity to identify all required permits up front and help you pass any required inspections. To schedule an appointment, contact the Small Business Advocate.  

For less complex events, you may still contact individual City of Dayton departments directly for specific applications.

• Tent and stage permits can be obtained through the Division of Building Inspection at the One Stop Center (371 W. Second St.). The Fire Department will also need to approve this permit.
• New events may require a special Festival Permit through the zoning administrator, also at the One Stop Center.
• Anyone desiring to use streets or sidewalks should contact the Division of Civil Engineering for a street privilege application.
• Applications for park shelter reservations and special events can be obtained through the Department of Public Works.

The City of Dayton Department of Recreation and Youth Services also has several indoor facilities that can be reserved. Other permits may still apply to your event, so pre-application consultation with the Small Business Advocate is recommended.

A simple block party can be organized through the Dayton Police Department; however, other permits may still apply to your event (again, a pre-application consultation is recommended).

Use of RiverScape MetroPark requires approval from Five Rivers MetroParks. However, other permits may still apply, and a pre-application consultation with the Small Business Advocate is recommended.

Food vendors will need to contact Dayton-Montgomery Public Health. Other permits may be required, so a pre-application consultation recommended.