A. 
All special events are prohibited unless written notice and an application containing the following information is provided to the City Manager, in paper form and in digital format acceptable to the City, at least eight weeks before the special event is to take place:
[Amended 4-16-2021 by Ord. No. 0421-01]
(1) 
The character, day, date, time, duration, location, approximate number of participants in the event and the number of organization members or volunteers that will assist in the conduct of the special event.
(2) 
Plans illustrating the location of the special event and the location of associated items such as tables, tents, portable bathrooms, and trailers.
(3) 
If the special event is to be a parade, procession, race, or similar moving assembly, the proposed route thereof.
(4) 
The names, addresses, phone numbers, and emails of the persons responsible for the special event.
(5) 
The purpose of the special event and the estimated number of persons and vehicles expected to participate.
(6) 
Request for parking closure, street closure, or both, if required.
(7) 
The names of the participating organization and officers of the organization.
(8) 
Contact information for the coordinator of the special event including cell phone and email.
B. 
The City Manager shall, within 30 days of receiving a special event application, and in consideration of the scale of the special event:
(1) 
Approve the application and issue a permit; or
(2) 
Deny the application in accordance with the standards set out in § 230-4; or
(3) 
Approve the application and issue a permit with conditions with respect to day, time, duration, location or other reasonable conditions, including payment of the City's incremental costs necessary to provide those public services necessitated by the special event.
The City Manager may deny or modify a special event permit for any of the following reasons:
A. 
The special event will significantly disrupt traffic within the City, and no practical solution to such disruption is reasonably available.
B. 
The special event will significantly interfere with access to or egress from the fire station such that the ability of the Fire Department to promptly respond to emergencies would be jeopardized.
C. 
The location of the special event will cause undue hardship to adjacent businesses, residents and/or property owners.
D. 
The special event will require the diversion of City employees which would unreasonably deny service to the remainder of the City.
E. 
The special event will interfere with a previously scheduled event.
F. 
The applicant has submitted materially incomplete or false information.
G. 
Any other articulable content-neutral reason narrowly designed to advance a compelling and legitimate City interest with regard to the special event.
H. 
The organizers of the special event have outstanding debts with the City for the same or similar events.
A. 
Any person aggrieved by the action of the City Manager in denying, modifying or revoking a permit may appeal to the Mayor and City Commissioners by filing with the Mayor a written statement setting forth fully the grounds for such appeal within 10 days of the action of the City Manager. In the event the appeal is filed 10 or more days prior to the next regular meeting of the Mayor and Commissioners, the appeal shall be heard at such meeting. In the event the appeal is filed less than 10 days prior to the next regular meeting of the Mayor and Commissioners, the appeal shall be heard at the regular meeting subsequent to the next regular meeting unless a special meeting is scheduled to hear the appeal. The Mayor shall promptly notify the applicant of such hearing by telephone or email, and United States mail, to the applicant at the address provided by the applicant to the City.
B. 
At such hearing, the applicant and the City Manager, who may be represented by legal counsel, shall be entitled to present such evidence and arguments as they deem appropriate in support of their respective positions, and may cross-examine any witnesses presented. The hearing shall be audio-recorded, and the Mayor and Commissioners shall articulate the reasons for its decision. Strict rules of evidence shall not apply to the conduct of such hearing.
C. 
The decision of the Mayor and Commissioners regarding an appeal shall be final.
[Amended 11-21-2025 by Ord. No. 1125-01; 1-5-2026 by Ord. No. 0126-01]
A. 
The applicant shall pay a non-refundable processing fee at the time of application. The fee is established in the City Schedule of Fees and Penalties.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The City Schedule of Fees and Penalties is on file in the City offices.
B. 
Fees are also charged for use of City facilities. Fees are established in the City Schedule of Fees and Penalties. Facilities include:
(1) 
Bandstand: Assignment of tier - the appropriate tier shall be determined by the City Manager or designee based upon objective criteria, including event duration, equipment needs, anticipated attendance, time of year and City staffing requirements. All determinations shall be applied in a content-neutral manner.
(a) 
Tier 1: For brief events requiring minimal setup and minimal city involvement, such as race kickoffs, short ceremonies, or similar short-duration activities.
(b) 
Tier 2: For events requiring up to five hours of total use, inclusive of setup, event time, and breakdown.
(c) 
Tier 3: For full-day events or events requiring extended use of the Bandstand for setup, event time and breakdown.
(2) 
Grove Park.
(a) 
Small Pavilion.
(b) 
Large Pavilion.
(c) 
Both Pavilions.
(3) 
Stockley Park.
(a) 
Pavilion.
[Amended 1-5-2026 by Ord. No. 0126-01]
The approval of the City Manager of an application for a special event permit may be made contingent upon the applicant providing the City a certificate of liability insurance covering the City of Rehoboth Beach as an additional insured, in a minimum amount of $1,000,000.
[Amended 11-21-2025 by Ord. No. 1125-01; 1-5-2026 by Ord. No. 0126-01]
A. 
Cleanup. For all Bandstand, Boardwalk and Pavilion/Park events, the applicant shall be responsible for the removal of all debris, litter and equipment generated or caused by a special event immediately following the event's conclusion. All rental equipment must be broken down and prepared for removal by the applicant or its vendors. If the applicant fails to appropriately remove all debris, litter and equipment, the applicant shall reimburse the City for all costs incurred, including a flat fee, as established in the City Schedule of Fees and Penalties,[1] for deployment of a cleanup crew at an hourly rate established in the City Schedule of Fees and Penalties per individual for each hour thereafter.
[1]
Editor's Note: The City Schedule of Fees and Penalties is on file in the City offices.
B. 
Permit expiration. The permit shall set forth the time period for which the permit is issued. The time period for which the permit is effective shall include a reasonable period to allow the applicant to set up and clean up from the special event. The permit shall expire at the end of the time period specified in the permit.
C. 
If, because of the nature, size or duration of the special event, the City Manager reasonably concludes that the cost of the cleanup after the special event will exceed $2,500, the City Manager may require, as a condition of issuing the permit, that the applicant deposit with the City an amount as established in the City Schedule of Fees and Penalties, in the form of cash, letter of credit, performance bond or other means acceptable to the City. Such deposit shall be returned to the applicant without interest no later than five working days after the conclusion of the special event, provided that the applicant has satisfied its cleanup obligations under Subsections A and B above. In the event that the applicant fails to satisfy such obligations, the City Manager may use all (or as much as reasonably necessary) of the deposit to effect satisfactory cleanup.
A permit issued under the provisions of this chapter may be revoked or suspended by the City Manager, without prior notice, for any of the following causes:
A. 
Fraud, misrepresentations or a material and significant incorrect statement contained in the application for the special event permit or made in the course of promoting the special event.
B. 
Failure to comply with any provision of this chapter.
C. 
Conducting the special event in an unlawful manner or is such a manner as to constitute a menace to the health, safety or general welfare of the public.
[Amended 11-21-2025 by Ord. No. 1125-02]
A. 
Failure to properly secure a special event permit, when required, previous to the initiation or commencement of the special event shall be a violation of this chapter.
B. 
For any and every violation of the provisions of this chapter, the person or persons, organization, partnership, corporation, or other entity required to apply for and obtain a special event permit under this chapter shall be liable, on conviction thereof, to a fine established in the City Schedule of Fees and Penalties,[1] for each and every offense. Whenever such person or persons, organization, partnership, corporation, or other entity shall have been notified by the City that such violation of this chapter is occurring, each day that the violation shall continue shall constitute a separate offense punishable by a like fine.
[1]
Editor's Note: The City Schedule of Fees and Penalties is on file in the City offices.