On Tuesday, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors are set to extend an urgency interim ordinance through May 23, 2024 that aims to address Commercial Temporary Events–including a prohibition on unpermitted commercial temporary events and new enforcement mechanisms.
This was first put in place in July 2022 after a the number of unpermitted commercial events were being held on private property and they saw this increase. These unpermitted commercial events typically are widely advertised, or require paid admission, or charge for parking. Because they are unpermitted, these commercial events are not subject to any conditions, such as noise restrictions, parking requirements, on-site restroom requirements, and other requirements designed to minimize the impact of these events on the normal free flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, minimize the impacts of noise from these events, protect the safety of property, and minimize disturbance and inconvenience to neighbors, neighboring properties, and neighborhoods.
On June 7, 2022 the Board of Supervisors adopted the ordinance (2022-23) and on Tuesday are now seeking to extend it.
This urgency interim ordinance extension is necessary to address significant negative impacts caused by an increase in unpermitted commercial events within the County. The County regulates short-term activities and events that are conducted on private property and generate or invite considerable public participation, invitees, or spectators under Chapter 82-44. Chapter 82-44 establishes procedures for evaluating, permitting, and regulating temporary events. These procedures authorize the zoning administrator to approve permits for temporary events and to require permit conditions, or deny permits when necessary.
The county says these procedures are necessary to protect and promote the health, safety and welfare of the public, temporary event participants, and nearby residents. Under Chapter 82-44, commercial events held on private property without a permit, and commercial events that violate the noise or amplified sound restrictions set forth in Chapter 82-44, are illegal.
Over the past several years, the number of unpermitted commercial events held on private property has increased. These unpermitted commercial events typically are widely advertised, or require paid admission, or charge for parking. Because they are unpermitted, these commercial events are not subject to any conditions, such as noise restrictions, parking requirements, on-site restroom requirements, and other requirements designed to minimize the impact of these events on the normal free flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, minimize the impacts of noise from these events, protect the safety of property, and minimize disturbance and inconvenience to neighbors, neighboring properties, and neighborhoods.
In an effort to deter these unpermitted events, on April 26, 2022, the Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance No. 2022-16, to increase fine amounts for violations of Chapter 82-44. Ordinance No. 2022-16 establishes the following fine amounts for violations of Chapter 82-44: $150 for the first violation, $700 for a second violation occurring within three years of the first violation, and $2,500 for each additional violation occurring within three years of the first violation. Code enforcement officers have begun to issue increased fines to property owners for holding unpermitted commercial events and for other violations of Chapter 82-44.
Adopting this urgency ordinance to extend the regulations related to commercial temporary events will allow staff to continue developing amendments to Chapter 82-44 that will hold commercial event organizers, in addition to property owners, liable for illegal commercial events; will authorize Sheriff’s deputies, in addition to code enforcement officers, to enforce Chapter 82-44; ensure that commercial event organizers do not evade the requirements of Chapter 82-44 by characterizing these commercial events as non-commercial events exempt from the Temporary Events Ordinance’s permit requirements.
Meeting Information
May 23, 2023
9:00 am
Full Agenda: Click Here
