Summer’s the natural time to think about it, but block party permits need lead time — here’s what’s involved if we want to close the block for a day.
What a Block Party Permit Covers
A Street Activity Permit from the Mayor’s Office of Citywide Events Coordination and Management lets a block close to traffic for up to 9 hours, one day, one block. It has to be open to all residents — no fees, vendors, sponsorships, or sales. The Community Board reviews the application and confirms there’s resident support, and NYPD gets looped in for the street closure.
Timing Matters
Apply at least 60 days ahead of the date you want. Applications that follow the guidelines get approved more than 95% of the time, so the lead time is really the main thing to plan around.
Extra Permits, If You Need Them
Depending on what you’re planning, you may also need: DCA for rides or inflatables, DOH for animals, HRA for raffles or donations, NYPD for amplified sound, and FDNY for generators.
Want to Help Plan One?
If there’s interest in a Clifton Pl block party this year, let us know — with 60 days of lead time needed, the sooner we hear from people, the more dates we’ll have to work with.
