World Cup Permitting + Event Guide

Your guide to navigating city permits and regulations.

Planning a special event for the summer of 2026?

We’re here to help! To make it easier for you to host a wide range of events in June and July 2026, the City has streamlined the approval process.

Important Dates

Large Community Event Permits: Jan. 15, 2026

Events anticipating more than 1,000 attendees must submit their applications by January 15, 2026. Staff will begin reviewing applications for large events in December 2025. The City will approve a limited number of event permits for summer 2026, depending on available staff and resources.

All Event Permits: March 27, 2026

To ensure we review your event permit request, please submit it through ePlace by March 27, 2026. Please note that large events may require City Council approval, and reviewing requests submitted after this date is not guaranteed.

Contact

Planner of the Day
913-895-6217

Three young girls on bikes and scooters smile for a photo while adults talk in a group in the background.

Quick Links

Block Party Permit

Planning to host a neighborhood block party? If your event will block off a street or disrupt traffic, you’ll need a block party permit.

Promotional Events

Looking to host a large promotional event? This permit allows for large promotional activities, temporary structures, inflatable objects, projected images and tent sales. This permit is generally for activities sponsored by a business or an organization.

Community Events

This permit is for events open to the community, such as watch parties, festivals, concerts, parades or runs. Due to high demand for summer 2026, requests may not be approved. The City will consider other City-sponsored events and resource availability when reviewing applications. Events anticipating more than 1,000 attendees must submit their applications by January 15, 2026.

Event Signage

If you want to display signs promoting your event for more than 30-60 days, as outlined in our temporary sign ordinance, you’ll need a special event signage permit. 

Other Permit Considerations

Some event components may require further permit review and are subject to additional regulations. For example, you may need additional permits for things like alcohol, food trucks, stages, product sales and more.

Special Event Permit Types

Every event is unique, and so are its permitting needs. Whether you’re planning a large public event or a smaller private gathering, each event type has specific permit requirements.

To find the right process for your event, please browse the categories below.

Block Party Permit

If your event will block a street or disrupt traffic, you’ll need to apply for a block party special event permit. Street closures are limited to one city block.

Block party special event permit holders must:

  • Provide Type 3 temporary street barricades. Find more details on the required barricades below. 
  • Provide immediate access for all emergency vehicles.
  • Allow residents and business owners access to the street. 
  • Keep on-street parking to a minimum and make sure your guests do not block driveways.  
  • Follow the City’s noise ordinance and limit late-night noise.
  • Clean up any debris left in the street after the party.

Type 3 Barricades

If your event will block a street or disrupt traffic, you’ll need to provide Type 3 temporary street barricades. Place barricades and signs at each end of the block to alert drivers of the closure. Street closures are limited to one city block. Check with local rental companies to obtain Type 3 barricades.

If your private event is held solely on private property, such as a neighborhood pool or in adjoining front yards, you do not need a permit or barricades.

NEC Member Neighborhoods

The City will not provide temporary barricades for events happening between June 1 and July 31, 2026. If your neighborhood is eligible to receive barricades as a voting member of the NEC, please contact Neighborhood Services at 913-895-6346 to discuss funding and options.

Promotional Activities

This permit type allows large promotional activities, temporary structures, inflatable objects, projected images and tent sales. These are generally activities sponsored by a business or organization. You must identify all components, including signage, in your permit application.

Please note: Pennants (strings with triangle flags) are not allowed, and all activities and signs must be placed on private property, not in the City’s right-of-way.

Permit Requirements:  

  • Site plan showing the location of the event activities
  • Written property owner authorization if you are not the owner
  • Written description of the event that includes:
    • Event activities
    • Dates and hours
    • Alcohol and food service
    • Anticipated attendances
    • Location and duration of temporary signs
    • Description of tents, temporary electrical or other structures
  • Supplemental items required for your specific event type (see special considerations)
  • Completed application in EnerGov
  • The required fee

Community Event

This permit is for events open to the community, such as watch parties, festivals, concerts, parades or runs. Due to City resources and staffing, community event requests submitted for the World Cup timeframe may not be approved. Some may require City Council approval.

Deadline for Large Events

Events anticipating more than 1,000 attendees must submit their applications by January 15, 2026. Staff will begin reviewing applications for large events in December 2025. 

The City will consider competing City-sponsored events and the availability of City resources to support the requested event.

If a community event permit is approved, it authorizes you to hold the event on the requested date. However, it does not replace the need for additional permits to conduct the event. It is the event organizer’s responsibility to secure all necessary permits. 

Permit Requirements:

  • A site plan showing the location of the event activities
  • Property owner authorization if you are not the owner
  • Detailed written description of the event, including:
    • Dates and hours of the event
    • Anticipated attendance
    • Method and limits of attendance
    • Weather contingencies
    • Parking arrangements, including off-site parking permission
    • Anticipated volunteer staffing/duties
    • Proposed street closures
    • Needs for traffic control and security assistance
    • Indication of any off-site traffic control devices
    • Identification of any tents, generators or temporary structures
    • Plans for food or alcohol service, or a common consumption area
    • Plans for any fireworks or pyrotechnic devices
    • Details of temporary lighting, including attention-attracting devices and parking lot lights
    • Details and locations of musical performers and efforts to comply with the noise ordinance.
    • Location, dates and details of any temporary signage
    • Arrangements for trash receptacles/collection or porta-potties
    • Site restoration plans
    • Credentials of any animal handlers and details of public animal engagement
  • Supplemental items as required by the event type (see special considerations)
  • Completed application in EnerGov
  • The required fee

Temporary Event Signage

This permit allows signs, banners, or feather flags that are larger or remain for longer than what is allowed by the City’s temporary sign ordinance.

There are no size restrictions, but pennants (strings of triangular flags) are not allowed. All signs must be placed on private property, not in the City’s right-of-way.

Permit Requirements:  

  • Property owner authorization, if you are not the owner
  • Description of your promotional items, including size and location
  • Site Plan for any ground-mounted items 
  • Completed application in EnerGov
  • The required fee

Other Permit Considerations

Some event components may require additional permit review and are subject to additional regulations.

Alcohol

Contact

City Clerk
913-895-6150

Liquor licenses are required for alcohol services, including:

  • Temporary Liquor Licenses
  • Caterer
  • Common Consumption Areas
  • Temporary Extension of Licensed Premises
  • Consumption of Alcohol on Public Streets, Sidewalks within the City

Food Trucks

The City allows food trucks as part of an approved, sponsored event and/or to cater a private event.

Food trucks are not allowed in City parks.

Please contact 913-895-8456 for a required fire inspection and HOAC sticker.

Food trucks must comply with the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Lodging Division. Please call 785-564-6767.

Stages + Structures

Contact

Plans Examiner of the Day
913-895-6205

Plans are required for any stage that meets one or more of the following criteria:

  • Occupant load greater than 300 persons
  • Height greater than 30 feet
  • Elevated floor greater than 24 inches
  • Floor area greater than 5,000 square feet
  • Stages with hanging equipment or ground-supported cover

Transient Merchants

Contact

City Clerk
913-895-6150

This permit is required for transient merchants or temporary product sales and requires the permission of the property owner.

Approved merchants can operate from June 14-July 12, 2026 on properties zoned C-O, CP-O, C-1, CP-1, C-2, CP-2, C-3, CP-3, M-2, MP-2, CP-3J, IP-2J, PEC-3J, PRB-3J and MXD. You can check the zoning of the property here.

Please note: Transient merchants are not allowed in the Downtown DFD District.

Zoning Map

Use of City Property: Right-of-Way

Street closures, other than a block party, require a parade permit. Due to capacity issues, only a limited number of parade permits will be issued during the World Cup timeframe.

If you’re hosting a block party, you must provide appropriate barricades. Type two or type three barricades are required to close a street:

  • Two barricades per lane
  • Four barricades to close a continuous street block
  • Two barricades per cul-de-sac

Use of City Property: Parks

City parks provide a variety of spaces to host events, ranging from large family gatherings to team parties and picnics.

Choose to reserve one of our 12 large shelters. 

Athletic fields are available on a first-come, first-served basis and can be reserved by contacting Parks at 913-895-6390.

Greenspace is not reservable. A special event permit may be required. Contact Planning and Development Services at 913-895-6217 for more information.

Restrictions:

Shelter Reservations

Tents

Tents over 900 square feet or closer than 12 feet to a building – provide flame propagation performance certificate.

Large Crowds

Contact

Overland Park Fire Department Fire Marshal
913-895-6175

Events anticipating attendance of over 1,000 people require a trained crowd manager at a ratio of one crowd manager per 250 attendees.

Electrical Services

Include plans for all temporary power, including towable generators and temporary electrical service.

Noise

Special events are subject to the City’s noise ordinance. Only the City Council can grant an exemption from a noise ordinance for an event.