Special Event & Vendor Permits

If your event meets one or more of the following conditions you need a Special Event Permit:

• You anticipate attendance of 100 or more people;
• Your event is open to the public;
• You anticipate alcohol consumption/sales;
• There will be amplified sound (excluding announcements and boom boxes) between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.;
• You plan to erect multiple small tents or one an area in excess of 400 sq. ft.

If your event is closed to the public, but you will be requesting a street closure, for example a block party, please inquire with our Traffic and Streets division. You may need a Traffic Impedance Application.

If your event met the criteria previously described.

1. Application

Complete the fillable PDF.

Permit Application(PDF, 466KB)

2. Submit

Sign and submit the completed application 30 days before your event, to the Community Development Department (CDD) at 1000 Central Ave., Ste. 150. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Note:

The Recreation Division office is located at the Larry R. Walkup Aquatic Center, 2760 Canyon Road, Los Alamos. Vendor permit applications can be turned in here. 

The Community Development Department (CDD) is located at the Municipal Building, 1000 Central Ave., Los Alamos. Business Licenses, which are required to vend in Los Alamos, can be obtained here.

1. Review

Upon receipt of your application, a representative with the CDD will contact you. They will be your primary point of contact during the application review process and will coordinate, if necessary, with other county departments. Depending on the details of your event, your application may need to be reviewed by the County's Internal Review Committee. 

2. Permit Fees

Once the CDD representative has approved your event, you will need to pay the permit fees as outlined in the application. Payments can be made in person at the Community Development Department at 1000 Central Avenue, Suite 150 in Los Alamos.

3. Permit Issued

A Special Event Permit will be issued to you. 

The host organization or designee will work with the Facility Manager before finalizing temporary vendors. Per the LAC Code of Ordinances, Sec. 12-35 the host organization must either:

1. Notify the vendors they are required to acquire a Los Alamos County Business License, or
2. Apply for a Temporary Use permit and pay associated fees

• The host organization or designee may contact vendors to discuss vending, but should wait to confirm their participation in the event until final arrangements have been made with the Facility Manager or their designee.
• All vendors must acquire a LAC Vendor License and Vendor Permit Application through the Los Alamos County Recreation Division.
• As parking is very limited during many events, the Aquatic Center and Ice Rink parking lots are not safe locations to vend, therefore food trucks/trailers or tents are not allowed to set-up in those parking lots.
• Vendors at the Aquatic Center and Ice Rink will have no or limited access to hook-up to electrical and water outlets. Generators are not allowed. Vendors may not unplug facility equipment in order to have access to power outlets.
• Any cords that may create a tripping hazard must be properly covered by carpets, tape, or trip cover protectors provided by the vendor. If a power cord is not properly covered, the cord will be removed.
• Temporary vendors in County facilities may only vend beverages approved by the contract between Los Alamos County and the beverage contractor who provides vending machines and product in Los Alamos County facilities.
• The County is not responsible for unsecured items left by vendors and or on Los Alamos County property, and vendors should be forewarned that the facilities are not fully secure.

The Aquatic Center is a high altitude natatorium housing a 50 meter x 25 yard swimming pool and a warm water therapy pool. On occasion, the Aquatic Center hosts athletic sporting events when temporary vendors would enhance the event experience for participants and attendees. With this in mind, for large sporting events, hosting outside vendors may be considered in the noted locations within the facility, if requested by the host organization.

The Los Alamos County Ice Rink is an outdoor NHL regulation size ice rink. In the winter months it hosts ice hockey, public skating, lessons, and tournaments. During the summer it occasionally hosts sporting events. Space is limited within the facility boundaries, and during the winter the Ice Rink houses a concession stand that sells general concession items as well as providing beverages in vending machines.

With these space constraints and on-site concessions, large sporting events hosted by local organizations who would like to bring in outside vendors may be considered under the following conditions:

• Inside:
  • The Main Warming Hug: The Rink can host one (1) vendor along the west within a 12` L x 4` W space, or can host two (2) vendors with two 6` L x 4` W spaces. Vendors may not be set up for longer than four (4) days, and will have limited access to power and water.
• Outside:
  • Within the Fenced Area: The Rink can host two (2) temporary vendors in the outside common public area. Space is limited to a 10` x 10` space that does not impede access to the building, may not stay up longer than for (4) days, and will have no or limited access to electrical and water outlets.

• Beer Garden Guidelines(PDF, 451KB)
• Tent Structure Guidelines(PDF, 2MB)
• Mobile Food Vendor Pre-Inspection Checklist(PDF, 550KB)
• Food Truck Safety Fact Sheet(PDF, 336KB)
• Non-Mobile Food Vendor Requirements(PDF, 390KB)
• Special Event Propane Requirements(PDF, 373KB)
• 2025 Vendor Meeting
  • 2025 Vendor Meeting Recording (4/23/2025)
  • 2025 Vendor Meeting Chat (4/23/2025)(TXT, 3KB)
  • 2025 Vendor Meeting Event Flyers (not all inclusive)(PDF, 23MB)

Acquire Vendor License, date specific vending permit, and pay associated fees with Los Alamos County Recreation Division.