Austin Fire Department Special Events

Austin Fire Department (AFD) Special Events contact: AFDSpecialEvents@austintexas.gov.

“Our Mission Goes Beyond Our Name” is the cornerstone of AFD. The Fire Marshal’s Office is committed to protecting lives, promoting public safety and assisting all parties involved to provide a level of service that will insure a safe and successful event.

AFD reviews all special events, assessing the fire safety needs and dictates the occupancy load for all enclosed venues. Working as a team member of Public Assembly Code Enforcement (P.A.C.E.), with representatives from City and State departments and commissions, AFD plays an intricate role in evaluating fire safety and enforcing all 2012 International Fire Code regulations. Regulated items include, but are not limited to the following: fire lanes and public safety access, tents and temporary membrane structures, fireworks, pyrotechnics, open flames, theatrical flame or laser performances, occupant loads, exiting, egress, use of decorative materials and finishes, use, location, storage or propane or other fuel type equipment and crowd management.

AFD event requirements issued prior to and on-site must be adhered to. Inspectors may interpret the International Fire Code and require additional public safety actions be taken prior to issuing any AFD permits and/or load card(s). Inspectors may assign public safety requirements at their discretion.

All events are subject to a site plan approval and a fire inspection.

Guidelines

Deadlines

Temporary Change of Use Applications must be submitted 21 days prior to the requested event date.
Site plans are required with all special event applications.
Applications are not complete until any assessed payments have been received in full.
Permit approvals are handled on a first come, first serve basis and are pending availability of the inspectors from the Fire Marshal’s Office for an on-site inspection prior to the event scheduled date.
If it is determined that a special event will require fire watch, availability of inspectors will dictate whether or not the event permit will be approved.
Payments for fire watch must be received five business days prior to an event.
Payment for all AFD fees (less fire watch) and permits must be received 5 business days prior to event date.

Additional Information

Permits

Annual Public Assembly (PA) – Required for public establishments who anticipate or operate at an occupancy rate of 50 or more people, and whose gross sales constitute 51% alcohol.

Carnival / Fair / Festival – Required for outdoor events with expected attendance of 500 or greater with some exceptions granted, as determined by assigned inspector or AFD SE Captain or Battalion Chief.

Exhibit & Trade Show– AFD provides on-site inspection services to review layout, pedestrian flow, aisle width, exiting plans and expositions in compliance with the current fire code adopted by the City of Austin, Texas.
As part of the permit requirements, onsite stand-by and inspection services may be required due to the size, complexity and/or unique safety issues regarding he activities associated with the proposed event.

See Exhibit and Trade Show Information Bulletin

Fireworks Discharge – Activities associated with the use of pyrotechnics and open flames must be reviewed and approved by AFD in compliance with the current fire code adopted by the City of Austin, Texas. (Examples of activities include: outdoor fireworks and pyrotechnics.)

Flame Effect, Theatrical Performance / Open Flame – A flame effect is the combustion of flammable solids, liquids or gases to produce thermal, physical, visual or audible phenomena before an audience. (Some examples include: hand-held burning torches, flaming batons or hoops, flame acts, fire walking, flaming sword dancers, open burning with religious services, candles or open flames in assembly occupancies.) A full demonstration to the Fire Marshal prior to the event date may be required. As part of the permit requirements, inspection services onsite stand-by inspectors and stand-by fire apparatus may be required due to the size, complexity and/or unique safety issues regarding the activities associated with the proposed event. Conditions of approval will be provided after an applicant review process.

Temporary Change of Use (TCOU) – Required for structures or portions of structures used a s public assemblies that do not currently have a “Certificate of Occupancy” for that type of use. Under fire code definition, a “public assembly” consists of 50 or more people. (Examples for a Temporary Change of Use permit for a special are: use of a vacant building, warehouse or a high-rise office/garage as a public assembly.) As part of the permit requirements, onsite fire watch may be required due to conditions of the current fire code, size, complexity and/or unique safety issues regarding the activities associated with the proposed event or structure.

Not more than twelve TCOU permits shall be issued for a given address in one calendar year.

Tents or Temporary Use – Tents or membrane structures erected on a building, balcony, stage, platform or other structure will require a building permit unless the elevation of the floor from which the tent is erected is less than 7 inches. If the tent requires a building permit, please contact Building.Inspections@austintexas.gov.

There is no need to apply with AFD if a building permit is required. If you do need a permit from AFD, please fill out the AFD tent application and email it along with the site plan at least 10 days before your event (during Spring Festival Season this may not be enough time due to extreme work load so plan accordingly) to AFDSpecialEvents@austintexas.gov. In the subject line write “Tent Application for (Event Name/Date)”. Incomplete applications or applications without site plans will not be accepted.

If your event requires an Austin Center for Events (ACE) Application, do not fill out the tent application and instead submit the ACE application

After-Hours Fire Inspection – Inspection performed after 1600 (4:00pm) on weekdays and all day on weekends. This fee may also be incurred if the event is not set up and ready for a final inspection due to load in, time of event, date of event or various other circumstances.

Fire Watch – When deemed necessary, standby inspector(s) necessary to mitigate the risks of fire during an event. Requirement determinations are made on a case-by-case basis. Buildings/structures that do not have an alarm system and/or a sprinkler system often require fire watch.

Apparatus Standby – As part of the permit requirements, some of events due to the size, complexity and/or unique safety issues regarding the activities associated with the proposed event may be required to have a stand-by fire apparatus at the event. (Examples include: large fenced in festivals where access is limited and response times to potential incident(s) are drastically reduced, discharging fireworks and events that are held in areas that pose a safety rise to wildland fires and/or approved during a burn ban.

Fees - Effective October 1, 2017 the approved fee schedule for Austin Fire Department will go into effect. See Full Schedule. Fees begin on page 4.

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