The Holly Springs City Council has adopted a policy requiring anyone who wants to hold a special event to first obtain a city permit a certain number of days in advance, and to pay a permit fee to offset the city’s costs of providing services.
A special event is defined as any activity on private or public property that affects parks, public streets, rights of way, sidewalks “or otherwise impacts the delivery of public safety services,” or that disrupts traffic flow on public streets or sidewalks.
Exemptions are given for funeral processions and city functions, and for private social gatherings on private property or the exercise of First Amendment rights that do not affect parks, streets, sidewalks or traffic.
Deadlines to apply for permits range from no less than seven days prior, if a free speech event; to at least six months, if more than 500 people are expected. The permit fee will be determined by Holly Springs after the city manager gets cost estimates from affected city departments.
The policy also details how organizers must work with the police, fire, and public works or parks and recreation departments ahead of the event.
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