Apply for an event permit

You will need a permit if your event:

• is for more than 100 people
• will be on any public open space like a park, road or the water
• is a commercial activity (includes ticketed and sponsored events)
• could cause damage to public property, the environment or surrounding roads in any way
• will involve alcohol, excessive noise, pyrotechnics or fireworks
• will create any form of waste
• will put the public and their safety at risk
• will need vehicle or power access
• will have food stalls or vendors (including catering or food trucks)
• will have infrastructure like bouncy castles, stages, marquees or signage
• will be flying a drone.

You may also need a permit if you are holding a wedding ceremony or birthday party on a public open space. Wedding receptions must be held in a private venue.

• A permit gives you permission to hold your activity on a council space. You will not have exclusive use of the space.
• We will not book other events on that space on that day.
• You can take your vehicle onto the space - this may depend on the location.
• You can take infrastructure like bouncy castles and marquees to the space.
• You can have access to council assets such as toilets. These assets may not be available at all locations.
• You can add a rain date to your permitted event date.

You need to provide a site map, run sheet, and a health and safety plan for your event.

This will depend on the number of people attending the activity and the type of event.

The following timeframes show when you need to submit your application, or we may:

• cancel your event permit application or
• ask you to move your event to another date.

Low impact event - at least six weeks before your event

These include events:

• with fewer than 500 people
• for weddings, birthday parties with or without bouncy castles
• with minimal infrastructure
• with fewer than two food trucks (non-trading, for event hire only)
• with amplified sound.

Medium impact event - at least 12 weeks before your event

These include events:

• with 501 to 4999 people
• on the water
• with amusement rides and devices
• with a road closure
• with alcohol
• with amplified sound
• with pyrotechnics or fireworks
• with any trading
• with two or more food trucks with onsite trading.

High impact event - at least eight months before your event

These include events:

• with more than 5000 people
• that need resource or building consent for things like multiple-day events and marquees over 100 square metres
• that are large, commercial and ticketed.

Auckland Domain - at least six months before your event

These include events that:

• have road closures
• will be on-site for more than two days or
• are ticketed.

All fees include GST.

You do not need an event permit for a protest. These are guaranteed under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990.

We recommend you let us know about your protest as soon as possible. This is due to the potential effect on streets, footpaths, parks, public places, businesses and council services.

Email events@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz with the:

• organiser's name and phone number
• number of expected participants
• date of the protest
• start and finish times
• route and location
• name and reason for the protest.

Events of any size can have potential risks (what can go wrong) and hazards (what can create risk) like:

• weather conditions
• large numbers of people and their mood
• traffic and equipment.

The event organiser (EO) has a duty of care to ensure no-one is harmed at the event. Learn more on the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 website.

During your event, including set-up and clean-up, you are responsible for the health and safety of all:

• contractors
• volunteers
• staff
• event participants
• other users of the space.

You must follow these steps:

1. Identify the hazards and risks.
2. Identify who could be harmed and how.
3. Assess the risks and decide what precautions to take.
4. Record your findings and include them in your health and safety plan.
5. Review your assessment and update it if necessary.

When you have completed these five steps you must provide us with your event health and safety plan.

Providing an event health and safety plan shows:

• you understand your responsibilities and
• are prepared to manage the risks and hazards associated with your event.

When we receive your application, an event facilitator will:

1. Assess the application and create a booking for the space.
2. Email you to advise what additional information you need to provide. Contact your event facilitator if you have any questions or need help.
3. Use the information received to create an Initial Event Proposal (IEP). This contains all the event information. We will send the proposal to all relevant stakeholders for approvals or feedback.
4. Let you know if you need to organise meetings with any of the stakeholders.
5. Let you know when we have received all feedback and approvals. If needed, we will work with the EO to make any changes, or issue the event permit.
6. Issue your invoice at the same time as the event permit and event advice.

If we decline your application, we will contact you to let you know why.

You can log into your account or contact your event facilitator to check the status of your application.

We will contact you about your application within five working days.

​Call us on 09 301 0101 to speak to an event facilitator if you cannot create an account or complete your application online.

Terms and conditions

You must read our terms and conditions before applying.