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Block Parties
block parties

Neighborhood block parties, or other events and celebrations for which a street may be closed, are a nice way to socialize and strengthen neighborhood bonds. To avoid problems, however, it is beneficial to have a permit process in place to ensure access for emergency vehicles and to keep traffic jams from occurring while streets are blocked off. Sample legislation on block parties also includes limitations on the hours of the party and the number of parties that may be held each year. It requires the applicant to take responsibility for removal of litter and debris, and that street barricades be readily removable for easy access for emergency vehicles. Liability issues are also addressed. If your community would like to put regulations on block parties in place, read on...

 
Tonawanda, T. NY: Ch. 183, Art. III

Queensbury, T. NY: Ch. 150

Mamaroneck, V. NY: Ch. 123

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Tonawanda, T. NY
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Chapter 183

STREETS AND SIDEWALKS


ARTICLE III
Temporary Blocking of Town Highways
[Adopted 3-14-1983 by L.L. No. 1-1983]

§ 183-20. Purpose.

These regulations are made to permit the holding of a neighborhood block party, celebration or event on a town street, highway or road as set forth in Subdivision 10-b of § 64 of the Town Law.

§ 183-21. Definitions.

As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
PARTY -- A neighborhood block party, celebration or event as provided in Town Law § 64, Subdivision 10-b.

STREET -- A town street, highway or road.

§ 183-22. Issuance of permit; information required.

The Town Board shall be authorized to issue a permit for the temporary blocking of a street for the purpose of holding a party. An application for such permit should be filed with the Town Board at least 20 days before the commencement of such party. Such application shall contain at least the following information: name and address of the applicant, name of the street or streets and a description of the portions thereof to be blocked, a description of the specific party to be held, whether an exemption from the Town of Tonawanda's Open Containers Local Law is being requested and the date and the hours of the party. The Town Board may require additional information.

§ 183-23. Criteria for issuance of permit.

The permit may be granted by the Town Board upon determining that the party is authorized by Town Law § 64, Subdivision 10-b, and this article. The permit shall be denied if the Town Board finds that blocking the street or portion thereof on the date requested in the application is not in the best interests of the town, will unduly interfere with the flow of vehicular traffic or that the party is not authorized under Town Law § 64, Subdivision 10-b, and this article. The Town Board shall advise the applicant in writing of the reason for denial of the application.

§ 183-24. Term of permit.

A permit issued pursuant to this article shall be valid only for the date and the hours specified thereon, which shall not be before 9:00 a.m. nor after 12:00 midnight.

§ 183-25. Removal of litter and debris.

The applicant shall be responsible for removal of litter, debris and other materials from the street or portion thereof used for the party which is attributable to or caused by the party and, if not removed by the applicant, may be removed by the town and the cost thereof charged to the applicant.

§ 183-26. Access for emergency vehicles required.

A street or portion thereof blocked off for a party shall not be obstructed by barricades or obstacles which cannot be readily moved to allow emergency and hazard vehicles to enter it in response to an emergency.

§ 183-27. Limitation on number of permits.

No more than two permits shall be granted by the Town Board in any calendar year for the same portion of a street.
Queensbury, T. NY
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Chapter 150

STREETS, TEMPORARY BLOCKING OF


[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury 6-17-1991 as L.L. No. 11-1991. Amendments noted where applicable.]


GENERAL REFERENCES

Streets and sidewalks -- See Ch. 149.

§ 150-1. Purpose.

This chapter is adopted pursuant to the authority set forth in Town Law § 64, Subdivision 10-b. The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the temporary blocking of town streets, highways and roads in a safe manner to allow neighborhoods to have neighborhood block parties, celebrations, graduation parties, fire parades or other like events.

§ 150-2. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
PARTY -- A neighborhood block party, celebration or event as provided in Town Law § 64, Subdivision 10-b, but shall not include a garage sale, yard sale, bazaar, rummage sale or other similar activity having the principal purpose as fundraising for an individual or organization, nor shall it include a political meeting or rally, carnival or theatrical or musical performances, such as rock concerts or similar events.

STREET -- A town street, highway or road.

§ 150-3. Permit required; application.

  1. Any person, before blocking or barricading a road in the Town of Queensbury for purposes of holding a block party, celebration, graduation party, fire parade or other like event, shall obtain a permit from the Town Highway Superintendent.

  2. The Superintendent of Highways shall be authorized to issue a permit for the temporary blocking of a street for the purpose of holding a party. Such permit shall allow the temporary blocking of a road on one (1) particular date only, and during a specified time period which shall be of a single duration. An application for such permit shall be filed with the Superintendent of Highways at least forty-eight (48) hours before the commencement of such party. Such application shall contain the following information:

    3. (1) The name and address of applicant.

    (2) The name of the street or streets and the description of the portions thereof to be blocked.

    (3) A description of the specific party to be held.

    (4) The date and the hours thereof.

  3. The exact specific nature of the form of the permits shall be determined by the Superintendent of Highways.

§ 150-4. Determination of approval or disapproval of permit application.

The permit shall be granted by the Superintendent of Highways upon determining that the party is authorized by Town Law § 64, Subdivision 10-b, and this chapter. The permit shall be denied if the Superintendent finds that blocking the street or portion thereof on the date requested in the application will unduly interfere with the flow of vehicular traffic or upon determining that the party is not authorized under Town Law § 64, Subdivision 10-b, and this chapter. The Superintendent of Highways shall advise the applicant, in writing, of the reason for denial of the application. There will be no fee charged for the permit.

§ 150-5. Duration of permit; time limitations.

A permit issued pursuant to this chapter shall be valid only for the date and hours specified thereon, which shall not be before 8:00 a.m. or after 11:00 p.m.

§ 150-6. Cleanup required.

The applicant shall be responsible for the removal of litter, debris and other materials from the street or portion thereof used for the party which is attributable to or caused by the party.

§ 150-7. Blocking of roads.

  1. Prior to the commencement of the time for which the road is to be blocked, the Town Highway Superintendent shall cause the street or portion thereof to be blocked by devices of his choice to motor vehicles except authorized emergency or hazard vehicles, as the same are defined in the Vehicle and Traffic Law, and to provide detour signs for vehicular traffic. No other person shall in any manner block or place barricades in the road.

  2. A street or portion thereof blocked off for a party shall not be obstructed by picnic tables and shall not be obstructed by other obstacles which cannot be readily moved to allow emergency or hazard vehicles to enter in response to an emergency.

  3. The Town Highway Superintendent shall notify the Warren County Sheriff's Department, New York State Troopers and appropriate Fire Company and Rescue Squad of the date and time of the road blocking at the time the permit is issued by telephone call followed by written confirmation.

§ 150-8. Limitation on number of permits issued.

No more than two (2) permits shall be granted by the Town Highway Superintendent in any calendar year for the same neighborhood.
Mamaroneck, V. NY
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Chapter 123

BLOCK PARTIES


[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Mamaroneck 4-27-1998 by L.L. No. 3-1998, effective 5-1-1998. Amendments noted where applicable.]


GENERAL REFERENCES

Littering -- See Ch. 238.
Streets and sidewalks -- See Ch. 296.
Fees -- See Ch. A347.

§ 123-1. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BLOCK -- A designated area within which the public streets shall be closed for a neighborhood party.

PARTY -- A neighborhood block party, celebration or event, but shall not include a garage sale, yard sale, bazaar, rummage sale or other similar activity having the principal purpose as fundraising for an individual or organization, nor shall it include a political meeting or rally, carnival or theatrical or musical performances, such as rock concerts or similar events.

STREET -- A village street, highway or road.

§ 123-2. Authorization to issue permit; application.

  1. The Village Manager shall be authorized to issue a permit for the temporary blocking of a street for the purpose of holding a party. At least 21 days before the commencement of such party, an application for such permit shall be filed by a bona fide resident of the street to be blocked, who is over the age of 18, and such application shall contain at least the following information:

    2. (1) The name and address of the applicant.

    (2) The name of the street or streets and a description of the portions thereof to be blocked.

    (3) A description of the specific party to be held.

    (4) The date and the hours thereof.

  2. The application may require such additional information as the Village Board shall prescribe by resolution.

§ 123-3. Fee; determination of approval or disapproval of application.

The application shall be accompanied by a fee as set forth in Chapter A347, Fees, which shall be refundable in the event that the permit is denied. The permit shall be granted by the Village Manager upon determining that the party is authorized. The permit shall be denied if the Village Manager finds that blocking the street or portion thereof on the date requested in the application will unduly interfere with the flow of vehicular traffic or upon determining that the party is not authorized. The Village Manager shall advise the applicant, in writing, of the reason for denial of the application.

§ 123-4. Validity of permit.

A permit issued pursuant to this chapter shall be valid only for the date and the hours specified thereon, which shall not be before 8:00 a.m. or after 11:00 p.m.

§ 123-5. Cleanup after block parties.

The applicant shall be responsible for removal of litter, debris and other materials from the street or portion thereof used for the party which is attributable to or caused by the party.

§ 123-6. Obstacles blocking streets to be movable.

A street or portion thereof blocked off for a party shall not be obstructed by obstacles which cannot be readily moved to allow emergency and hazard vehicles to enter it in response to an emergency.

§ 123-7. Limit on number of permits.

No more than two permits shall be granted by the Village Manager in any calendar year for the same block or blocks.

§ 123-8. Liability.

The persons, organization or association to whom the permit is issued shall be liable for all losses, damages or injuries sustained by any person, whether a participant or spectator at the block party or recreational event, whether or not said losses, damages or injuries arise by reason of the negligence of the person, persons or organization to whom such permit shall have been issued. The Village Manager shall require the applicant to enter into a hold-harmless agreement, which agreement shall provide that the applicant shall agree to save and hold the village harmless of and from any and all obligations and liabilities which may arise from the temporary street closing which represents the subject matter of the application. The applicant shall further agree as part of these provisions to hold harmless the village and to defend at his own cost and expense any claims or lawsuits instituted by third parties, which obligations or liabilities might otherwise exist or be asserted against the village. The Village Manager shall further have the option to require that, prior to the issuance of a permit or commencement of the temporary street closing for commercial advertising purposes or profit, the applicant submit evidence of liability insurance covering damages to property and injuries to members of the general public arising out of the temporary street closing in such amounts as may be determined by the Village Manager.

§ 123-9. Penalties for offenses.

Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be subject to a penalty of not more than two $250, or imprisonment for a term not to exceed 15 days, or both. Each day's continued violation shall constitute a separate offense.
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