Butte County posts outdoor festival permit requirements
OROVILLE » In an effort to spread awareness and avoid incidents, Butt County has issued a breakdown explaining what is needed before an individual or group can host an outdoor festival.
The breakdown lists some of the requirements and regulations around outdoor festivals as well as the cost for holding them in the form of application costs and other fees.
First off, festivals that bring in a crowd of 100 people or more require a license obtained from Butte County through the Treasurer-Tax Collector Department. This office is located at 25 County Center Drive, Suite 124 in Oroville.
Applications themselves cost $100 and are non-refundable. Those applying will also be expected to pay $300 for environmental review because of county code requirements. It is noted that fees can sometimes be waived if it is a nonprofit organization applying.
According to the Treasurer-Tax Collector Department’s website, the submitted application will go to the Planning Division of the Development Services Department for review and a determination as to whether the proposed festival is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. If it is not exempt, the application is denied.
If the application is exempt, then the application will go forward.
Once the application gets past the environmental review process, a public hearing is held in front of the Butte County Board of Supervisors at least 30 days, but no more than 60 days, before the event is scheduled to take place. At this point members of the public who might be in some way affected by the festival will get a chance to speak for or against it.
The board will then decide whether or not to approve the license for the outdoor festival.
“The board shall consider documentary and testimonial evidence before granting a license,” the guidelines posted by the Treasure-Tax Collector Department state. “The board may also impose conditions and security to guarantee that conditions will be met.”
Before the hearing, the clerk of the board will notify the applicant as well as neighbors of the area where the festival is set to take place of the public hearing and post the details of the hearing online.
If the group hosting the event is not a nonprofit, a fee of $150 will be required per day that the festival takes place.