The purpose of this chapter is to facilitate the promotion of events and activities within the city, to create a more positive image of the city, to stimulate significant economic growth in the city, and to ensure to the extent possible that events are conducted in a safe and sanitary environment. It is the city's intent to encourage and give high priority to established special events that have a record of significantly benefiting the city.
(Ordinance 2021-10527, § 1, adopted 12/9/2021)
In this chapter:
Applicant
means a person who has filed a written application for a special event permit or a block party permit.
Block party permit
means written approval to hold a neighborhood block party granted by the special event coordinator under this chapter.
City
means the City of Irving, Texas.
City-licensed vendor
means any person licensed or permitted under this code or another city ordinance to sell or offer for sale food, beverages, goods, or services at or within a specific location or area in the city.
City-produced special event
means a special event:
(1) 
Directly related to a recognized function of city government; and
(2) 
Financed by the city; and
(3) 
Conducted by the city.
Demonstration
means a public manifestation of grievances, support, or protest towards a person, cause, issue, or other matter.
Entertainment center event
means an event or gathering of persons inside the amphitheater/performance hall at the city-owned entertainment center, which is located on an 18.06-acre tract of land in the Las Colinas Urban Center and approved as a convention and entertainment center project pursuant to chapter 334 of the Texas Local Government Code.
Established special event
means an event or activity that:
(1) 
Occurs at least once a year;
(2) 
Has an average attendance exceeding 1,000 participants and spectators for each day of the event or activity;
(3) 
Significantly contributes to positive advertising and economic growth of the city; and
(4) 
Is open to the public, with or without an entry fee.
Hand-wash facility
means a facility with water, soap and individual disposable towels that are provided for hand washing. The water provided at a hand-wash facility need not be under pressure but shall come from an approved source such as: commercially bottled drinking water; closed portable water containers; enclosed vehicular water tanks; on-premises water storage tanks; or piping, tubing or hoses connected to the City of Irving water system in accordance with the city's adopted plumbing code.
Neighborhood block party
means an organized small-scale activity that closes a small number of blocks on a local-service, residential street that is initiated by and intended to attract only local residents who live on or in close proximity to the street being closed and not intended for the general public.
Person
means an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, association, or other legal entity.
Special event
means any temporary outdoor event or gathering on public property, excluding a neighborhood block party, that involves one or more of the following activities where otherwise prohibited by city ordinance or applicable zoning, except when the activity is for construction or house-moving purposes only:
(1) 
Closing of a public street, public access easement, or driveway;
(2) 
Blocking or restriction of public property;
(3) 
Sale of merchandise, food, or beverages on public property, as a secondary use;
(4) 
Installation of a stage, band shell, trailer, van, portable building, grandstand, or bleachers on public property;
(5) 
Placement of portable toilets on public property;
(6) 
Placement of temporary no-parking, directional, over-size, or identification signs or banners in or over a public right-of-way; or
(7) 
Utilization of pyrotechnics;
Special event coordinator
means the Irving Police Department supervisor designated by the police chief to implement, administer, and enforce this chapter, and includes any designated representative of the special event coordinator.
Special event permit
means written approval to hold a special event granted by the special event coordinator under this chapter.
(Ordinance 2021-10527, § 1, adopted 12/9/2021; Ordinance 2025-11069 adopted 2/27/2025)
(a) 
The special event coordinator shall implement, administer, and enforce the provisions of this chapter.
(b) 
The special event coordinator has authority to issue a special event permit that authorizes one (1) or more of the activities described in Section 33B-2(10) when all requirements of this chapter have been met. Any special event permit that is erroneously issued by the special event coordinator not in compliance with the requirements of this chapter shall be void.
(Ordinance 2021-10527, § 1, adopted 12/9/2021)
(a) 
The provisions of this chapter are cumulative of all city ordinances. Tent permits, building permits, electrical permits, food establishment permits, alcoholic beverage licenses, animal exhibition permits, and all other permits and licenses required by city ordinance or other law for specific activities to be conducted in conjunction with or as part of the special event must be applied for separately, in accordance with the applicable ordinance or law. The special event coordinator shall be provided by the applicant with a copy of all city-issued permits or licenses required by any other city ordinance.
(b) 
Application for a special event permit authorizes appropriate city departments to issue permits for the activities described in section 33B-2(10) in locations where the activity would otherwise be prohibited by city ordinance.
(c) 
A special event permit issued under this chapter shall be deemed to only grant permission from the City of Irving to conduct the special event. Nothing in this chapter and no special event permit issued thereunder shall be construed as granting permission from other governing or regulatory bodies, entities, or associations whose permission is needed to conduct the special event. The special event applicant is responsible for obtaining all necessary approvals from other governing or regulatory bodies, entities, or associations prior to conducting the special event.
(Ordinance 2021-10527, § 1, adopted 12/9/2021)
The provisions of this chapter do not apply to:
(1) 
A demonstration at a fixed location that will not adversely impact pedestrian or vehicle traffic on a roadway, street, sidewalk, or passageway;
(2) 
A funeral procession; or
(3) 
City-produced special events.
(Ordinance 2021-10527, § 1, adopted 12/9/2021)