Block Party
Family Table Top
Film Production
Outdoor Entertainment
Parades
Special Events
Sporting Events

Block Party Permit
Persons residing in neighborhoods requesting permission to close or block any thoroughfare in that neighborhood for the purpose of having a gathering of neighbors are required to obtain a Special Event Permit from the City.

The Block Party permit application consists of the Outdoor Event and Entertainment permit application and the Block Party Regulations and Petition.

The special events permit must be applied for 30 days prior to the day of the event. The permit processing fee is $50. Block parties may be held any day of the week and may continue for no more than four hours. Parties must begin after 11:00 a.m. and end by 10:00 p.m. The sale of tickets, food, beverages, etc. is prohibited. Also, no admission fees shall be charged.

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Family Table Top Permit
A Family Table Top commercial recreation center is any establishment where video games, pinball, or any other game of recreation or amusement are displayed for public patronage, and where the insertion of a coin, token or the payment of a fee is required.

If any establishment has five or more tables or game machines, a permit is required by the city. Pool tables are not included in this requirement. The processing fee for the application is $150.00 and the permit is good for 1 year from the date issued.

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Film Production Permit
Film companies involved in making motion pictures, broadcast television productions, commercials, music videos (other than news media), are required to get a permit from the City of Virginia Beach. The Special Events & Film Office, under the Department of Convention & Visitor Development, assists film makers by providing locations, production, and on-site assistance and by coordinating the necessary city services and permits required for filming in the City.

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Outdoor Entertainment Permit
Outdoor entertainment is an outdoor celebration or gathering, which involves the use of either public or private property, and which may include musical entertainment, fireworks, dancing, dramatic productions, art exhibitions, amusement attractions or devices, the distribution or sale of merchandise, food and/or alcohol, or any combination of the above. These events require a special event permit from the City.

Establishments offering live or recorded musical entertainment for public or private audiences in other than a fully enclosed building also require a special event permit from the city. Private residences providing outdoor musical entertainment for more than 150 people, for example, an outdoor wedding reception with a band or disc jockey, are also required to have a special event permit from the City.

The special event permit application must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the day of the event, and 60 days prior to the first day of a major event which is consecutively for two or more days. The permit processing fee can vary from $50.00 to $150.00 depending on the scope of the event, and whether it is held on public or private property.

A complete permit application packet consists of the Outdoor Event and Entertainment Permit Application, Vendor and Sponsor Information Sheet, More Event Requirements, and Insurance Requirements.

As a condition of approval, the event sponsor is required to provide a certificate of insurance covering general liability (required only for event held on public property) and may also be required to provide other items as deemed necessary to ensure the safety of event participants and spectators.

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Parade Permit
A parade is a march, procession or race consisting of people, animals, bicycles, wheelchairs, etc on a public street, sidewalk or alley which does not comply with normal traffic regulations and includes different assembly and disassembly points.

The special event permit application must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the day of the event, and 60 days prior to the first day of a major event which is consecutively for two or more days. The permit processing fee is $75.00 for events utilizing city sidewalks or residential streets and $100.00 for events utilizing a major thoroughfare.

A complete permit application packet consists of the Outdoor Event and Entertainment Permit Application, Vendor and Sponsor Information Sheet, More Event Requirements, and Insurance Requirements.

As a condition of approval, the event sponsor is required to provide a certificate of insurance covering general liability, and they may also be required to provide other items as deemed necessary to ensure the safety of event participants and spectators.

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Special Event Permit
The City of Virginia Beach offers a variety of year-round events and entertainment programs in the resort area to promote and enhance the City's economic vitality and quality of life. Beach Events, a division of Live Nation, works in cooperation with the City of Virginia Beach to provide an exciting and comprehensive special events program. Their mission is to enhance the image of Virginia Beach as a superior quality, year-round family resort destination.

Other events and activities also occur on an annual basis in the resort area, such as the Shamrock Marathon and Sportsfest, Boardwalk International Arts Festival, East Coast Surfing Championships, and the Neptune Festival. These events are coordinated through the assistance of the Special Events Office located in the Department of Convention and Visitors Bureau.

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Sporting Event Permit
A sporting event is an organized competition, tournament or exhibition held on public or private property which includes one of the following types of athletic activities: surfing, sailing, power boating, canoeing, jet skiing, water skiing, wind surfing, body boarding, skim boarding, volleyball, softball, skateboarding, rollerblading, etc. These events require a Special Event Permit from the City.

The special event permit must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the day of the event, and 60 days prior to the first day of a major event which is consecutively for two or more days. The permit processing fee can vary from $75.00 to $150.00 depending on the scope of the event, and whether it is held on public or private property.

A complete permit application packet consists of the Outdoor Event and Entertainment Permit Application, Vendor and Sponsor Information Sheet, More Event Requirements, and Insurance Requirements.

As a condition of approval, the event sponsor is required to provide a certificate of insurance covering general liability (required only for event held on public property) and they may also be required to provide other components as deemed necessary to ensure the safety of event participants and spectators.

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Resort Management and Special Events Office
2101 Parks Ave, Ste 502
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Phone: 757.385.4800 Fax: 757.422.3666
Email: vbresort@vbgov.com