§ 142-85. Street closure permits and sidewalk closure permits.

Any person, organization, corporation or other group wishing to temporarily close or obstruct all or a portion of a city-owned street or right-of-way, or a city sidewalk, for an event that is not an assembly and that does not fit within the exceptions of section 142-81(a)(4), must obtain a street closure permit or sidewalk closure Permit as applicable. No person shall engage in, participate in, aid, form or start any such event unless a street closure permit or a sidewalk closure permit has been obtained from the chief of police or her/his designee.

(a)

Any person or entity wishing to obtain a street closure permit or a sidewalk closure permit shall submit a completed street or sidewalk closure permit application to the chief of police or her/his designee at least ten days prior to the event to guarantee review, and shall submit a $50.00 application fee therewith. The Atlanta Police Department will reasonably attempt to review an application submitted after that deadline, but only where said review does not interfere with other priorities of the department. No application fee for the street or sidewalk closure permit shall be due when said closure is part of an outdoor festival that is permitted or whose permit is pending. An application fee shall be due when the closure is part of a large gathering that is permitted or whose permit is pending.

(b)

A street closure permit and a sidewalk closure permit may not be used to authorize an assembly.

(c)

Street closure permits and sidewalk closure permits issued pursuant to this Article VI may not be used to authorize or accommodate valet parking.

(d)

The street closure permit and sidewalk closure permit shall be granted at the discretion of the chief of police or her/his designee. The determination of whether to issue the permit shall be made after the decision-maker's consideration of the factors considered by the chief of staff regarding outdoor events, as set forth in section 142-12 above, and after an evaluation of the public safety and traffic effects of such closing.

(e)

When granting a street or sidewalk closure permit, the chief of police shall require that reasonable steps be taken, where possible, to minimize the adverse effect that such closing(s) may have upon the public. To minimize impact upon public safety and traffic, the police chief or her/his designee shall recommend denial of a street closure permit application where the closure is to occur on a weekday that is not a federal holiday, unless s/he reasonably determines that the closure will create negligible traffic delays and public safety concerns.

(f)

Upon granting the street closure permit or the sidewalk closure permit, the chief of police or her/his designee shall have the authority to close the appropriate city-owned streets, sidewalks, rights-of-way, or portions thereof, to accommodate the permit request.

(g)

The police chief or her/his designee shall have the authority, when reasonably necessary, to prohibit or restrict the parking of vehicles at or near the location where the closure or obstruction will occur. The permit recipient, at the direction of the Atlanta Police Chief or her/his designee may be required to post city-approved "no parking" signs in the designated locations. It shall be unlawful for any person to park or leave unattended any vehicle in violation of such signs.

(Ord. No. 2009-04(08-O-2030), § 1, 1-31-09; Ord. No. 2009-33(09-O-0805), §§ 6, 10, 6-23-09)