Event and festival permits
Lodge a permit application for an event or market. Find out about related approvals, including permission to serve alcohol.
Council regulates events and festivals to ensure public health, safety and to minimise the impacts on the community.
You need a permit to:
- hold an event, festival or market in a Council space or on private property
- sell or supply liquor at a public event.
Planning an event
As an event organiser, you must meet the requirements of the Events Local Law 2022 (the Local Law).
The Local Law sets out the requirements for event permits.
For more information:
- read the Local Law and associated rules
- phone Council’s Business Hotline on 133 BNE (133 263)
- download the Event Customer Guide.
Do I need a permit?
You must have a permit for an event:
- with an expected attendance of 2,000 or more people
- involving motorsports or firearms.
Exemptions
These events and activities are exempt from the permit requirements under the Local Law.
You don’t need an event permit for:
- a private party
- a public gathering under the Peaceful Assembly Act 1992
- an event with an expected attendance of fewer than 1,000 people that doesn't involve assessable risks
- an event with an expected attendance of fewer than 2,000 people that doesn’t involve assessable risks.
You don’t need a permit for an event:
- at a facility listed in Schedule 1 of the Major Sports Facilities Regulation 2014
- at a venue regulated under the Amplified Music Venues Local Law 2006
- at Brisbane Showgrounds indoor facility
- at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
- run by a school within the school grounds
- under any arrangement or agreement, that expressly permits the undertaking of the event, entered into by Council with any person on any terms and conditions acceptable to Council
- a sporting event undertaken at a dedicated sporting facility, unless it involves firearm or motorsport activities
- a thoroughbred, harness or greyhound race meeting or training activity at a purpose-built facility.
Accessibility guidelines
You must take measures to ensure your event is as accessible as possible.
Download our event accessibility guidelines for recommendations and more information.
Sustainability guidelines
We've developed guidelines to help event organisers incorporate sustainable principles into the planning of their events.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander acknowledgement
Find helpful information and guidance around organising a Welcome to Country or an Acknowledgement of Country for your event.
Permit for self-assessable events
- Ensure your event complies with the Self-Assessable Events Rule.
- Book a park site, if required, and have your booking reference number on hand.
- Make sure you apply at least 30 working days before the event start date.
You must pay the $80.95 permit fee when you lodge your application.
You can pay using Visa or Mastercard.
This fee doesn’t attract GST.
Complete the online form to apply for a self-assessable event permit.
You’ll be emailed your permit.
You must:
- comply with the permit conditions and event obligations
- prepare the documents and plans specified in the permit to manage your event safely (The Queensland Government provides useful templates.)
- have your permit and documents available for inspection at the event and at least 20 working days after.
Council officers may visit the event to check that you have complied with the permit requirements.
Permit for assessable events
This type of event permit is:
- issued on a short-term basis to cover the duration of one-off events
- issued for up to 3 years to cover reoccurring events
- renewed before their expiry (for permits issued for a 12-month period).
- Prepare the mandatory supporting documents, including a site plan and an emergency response and evacuation plan. The Queensland Government provides useful templates for these documents.
- Obtain a Certificate of Currency for Public Liability for at least $20 million in the same name as the proposed event permit holder.
- Ensure your event complies with the Assessable Events Rule. Check if you need to supply additional supporting documents.
- Book a park site, if required, and keep the booking reference number on hand for your permit application.
- Make sure you apply at least 30 working days before the event start date.
You must pay the relevant fee using Visa or Mastercard when your lodge your application.
These fees don’t attract GST.
| Application type | Fee |
|---|---|
| New assessable event application (less than 10,000 people attending over the duration of the event) | $1,824.35 |
| New assessable event application (more than 10,000 people attending over the duration of the event) | $3,780.50 |
| Amendment (assessable event only) | $372.40 |
| Transfer application (assessable event only) | $234.25 |
| Renewal application (assessable event only) | $1,187.45 |
- Qualifying Type 1 Religious or Charitable organisations listed or defined in the Schedule of Fees and Charges
- not-for-profit organisations that provide or support welfare or community services
- incorporated not-for-profit community organisations established for sporting, educational, recreational, cultural or community purposes.
Complete the online form to apply for an assessable event permit.
You can also use the online form to:
- transfer a permit
- renew a permit (for recurring events)
- update a permit to reflect event changes (e.g. the event date, location and number of attendees).
You’ll receive a response within 5 working days.
Council may refuse your application if it's incomplete or not submitted on time.
If we approve your permit, you must:
- comply with the permit conditions
- have your permit and documents available for inspection at the event.
Council officers may visit the event to check that you have complied with the permit requirements.
You may need other approvals relating to:
Organising a market
Council regulates markets under:
When you need a permit
You may need an event permit if your market:
- will be a reoccurring event
- involves assessable activities.
You may need other approvals to hold a market.
Planning approval
Your market’s location may trigger planning approval under City Plan.
Read our guide to learn about the preferred locations for markets.
Council consent
You need Council consent for a one-off or reoccurring market held:
- in a park with an expected attendance of 500 people or more
- on a road or footpath
- in a Council mall.
For more information, phone Council’s Business Hotline on 133 BNE (133 263), open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Advertising approval
If you plan to promote your market, you may need to apply for advertising device approval.
Food business licensing
You must ensure that food vendors at your market have current food business licences. You may need to provide a list of all food vendors and their food business licence details to Council.
Learn more about food business licensing and safety requirements.
Liquor licensing
If you plan to serve alcohol, you may need to apply for a liquor licence.
Applying for a liquor licence
You must have Council consent to serve alcohol at an event on Council land. This includes parks, roads and footpaths.
You also need Council permission before you apply for a community liquor permit from the Queensland Government. This permit allows you to sell or supply liquor on a temporary or one-off occasion at unlicensed premises.
Long-term liquor licence
If you plan to supply alcohol at a reoccurring event, you need a long-term liquor licence under the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation.
Before you apply, you must request written advice and consent from Council.
Find out more about liquor and wine licensing in Queensland.
Request Council consent
You can request Council consent:
- as part of an assessable event permit application (for a temporary liquor licence consent at an event)
- using the investigation into liquor licence request online form (for long-term liquor licence applications).
There is no additional fee for this application.
We'll get back to you in 5 business days.
Frequently asked questions
Events and festivals need a permit if they:
-
have an expected attendance of 2,000 or more people
-
involve assessable risks such as firearm or motorsport activities.
Events with more than 1,000 people may also require a permit if they involve any assessable risks.
Learn more about event requirements, risks and permits.
Yes, there are specific event security requirements for events and festivals.
Events in Brisbane must have:
- safe entry and exit points
- qualified staff to keep the public safe and supervise activities
- appropriate communications system and equipment to manage safety issues and emergencies.
All events are also required to have an Emergency Response and Evacuation Plan which:
- details how potential emergencies will be managed and communicated
- considers medical, weather or security emergencies such as fires, security incidents and severe weather.
Read about Emergency Response and Evacuation Plans in the Events Local Law Permit Customer Guide.
You can’t carry out the proposed event or festival if Council refuses your permit application.
You can submit another application if:
- there's enough time before the proposed event start date (at least 30 working days)
- you include all the mandatory information and supporting documents when you lodge your application
- the issues identified in the grounds for refusal have now been adequately addressed.
You must have Council permission to serve alcohol at events on Council land. You must also have a Queensland Government liquor licence.
Find out more about alcohol licensing for events.
You can make changes to your event permit application after you submit it to Council by speaking to your assigned Council contact officer. The officer assigned to your case will reach out within 5 business days.
Before you submit your permit application:
- prepare all the mandatory documents, including a site plan and an Emergency Response and Evacuation Plan
- obtain a Certificate of Currency for Public Liability for at least $20 million in the same event as the event permit holder
- ensure the event complies with the Assessable Events Rule
- book the park site (if required).
Learn about the event permit application process.