Block Parties

Residents may apply to close off their street for a block party. If this is the first time your block has held a party or if you have not held one in the past two years, we ask that you circulate a petition among your neighbors to demonstrate support for the event.

Timeline

We encourage you to submit your application at least 30 days in advance. Our office receives a high volume of block party requests, and they take time to process. We prioritize processing applications based on the date of the block party. For example, we process July permits before August.

Sample Checklist

☑️ Submit an application to the Alderman’s office (at least 30 days in advance)

☑️ Request a free bounce house from the city (applications open in April)

☑️ Flyer all residents as a reminder (one week before)

☑️ Flyer vehicles to remind them to move their cars (48 hours in advance)

☑️ Put up No Parking signs received from Alderman’s office (48 hours in advance)

☑️ Use your vehicles to block access to the street (morning-of, beginning at 10 AM)

☑️ Clean up and re-open access to the street (day-of by 10 PM)

potential Additions

  • Visit from a fire truck: You may also request a visit from a Fire Truck. They will do their best to stop by but cannot guarantee as fire fighters are on duty and may not be available. This request is included in our regular block party application.

  • Jumping Jack Application: Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) provides free inflatable bounce houses for block parties based on availability. Please check for jumping jack availability here. Requests are on a first-come-first-serve basis and fill up very quickly. Consider planning a Sunday Block Party if having a jumping jack is important to you.

Closing Street

The block party permit allows residents to close the block to traffic, but the city does NOT provide other services, (i.e. street cleaning and barricades). You may ask neighbors to remove their cars, however the city does not require, nor enforce the removal of cars.

Halloween Block Parties

Halloween is the only time we permit a second block party permit for a street. If Halloween falls on a weekday the street closure will be from 2pm until dusk, approximately 6pm.

Rules Regarding Block Parties

  • Permits are not issued for any arterial streets or bus routes.

  • Street closure hours at 10AM and 10PM and are not issued for more than one day in succession or to close any street for a commercial purpose.

  • No intersection can be blocked; permit are only issued for a single block.

  • In addition to the rules listed above, the Block Party Permit request may be denied by CDOT due to incomplete application, traffic control issues, issues related to other permits issued in the vicinity of the event or public safety concerns.

  • Please leave alleys on your street open. Cars should be able to drive into the street to access alleys.

  • Flyer every building on the block. Single family homes, 2 & 3 flats & multi-unit buildings, 5-7 days prior to the party.

  • Block parties should be inclusive. No one wants to feel that if they don’t have children there’s no place for them at the party. Involve everyone in planning, creating and executing the day.

  • “No Parking” signs should be up 24-48 hours prior to the party.

  • Fireworks of any kind are illegal. Future block party permits could be denied due to their presence.

  • Your street must be clean and open to traffic no later than 10 PM.