No person shall conduct a special event as defined herein within the City without first obtaining a special event permit.  See  § 428-7 of the Watertown Municipal Code.
The City’s goal is to encourage and help coordinate special community events, while regulating these events in a positive manner to ensure the health and safety of participants at the event, efficient management of City services and the protection of public lands and facilities.

Special event means a temporary planned occurrence on public or private property and involves at least one of the circumstances listed below:

• Produced or sponsored by a person or organization for which the event is extraordinary in that it is not ordinarily conducted on a daily or regular normal average use basis as a lawful use of the premises upon which such event is to occur;

• Exclusive use of all or part of City-owned facilities, within the City boundaries, such as buildings, parks, open spaces, streets, parking lots, athletic fields, etc., but does not include normal park shelter rentals;

• Cannot be held completely within the confines of an existing building, park;

• Will involve the temporary closing of a public street, alley, parking lot or public right-of-way;

• Will have over 300 people attending the event (or multiple events as part of a series) on private property, except those situations explained in section C of this chapter;

• Will require extraordinary services by any City Department;

A special event is not intended to include private events such as family gatherings, weddings or funeral ceremonies and processions not intended for the general public or for events that do not require extraordinary services or require any additional City licenses or permits. For exempt events, refer to § 428-7 (b) of the Watertown Municipal Code. 

Applications shall be made in writing on the form prescribed by law and filed with the City Clerk's Office.

• Checklist

• Application

• Special Event Planning Guide

• Special Event Guide

• Extraordinary Charges Fee Schedule

• Special Event Ordinance

Applications must be complete and submitted with fee (see below).  Regardless of the size of the event, all questions must be answered and necessary documentation attached (follow the checklist). Incomplete applications will be not be accepted. 

Applications/forms, including any applicable filing fees, may be mailed or dropped off during normal City Hall business hours (M-Fri 8a–4:30p) or mailed to City Hall c/o City Clerk 106 Jones Street PO Box 477 Watertown WI 53094

Application fee is due when the application is submitted and is nonrefundable if the event is cancelled. If the event is rescheduled for a date within 6-months, the application fee would apply to the rescheduled date; if the event is rescheduled for a date later than 6-months of the original event date the application fee is nonrefundable.
$50.00 - first application for the year of the applicant if submitted 45 days or more prior to event date.
$35.00 - each subsequent application of the applicant if submitted 45 days or more prior to event date.(The fee is doubled if submitted less than 45 days prior to event date)

Extraordinary Services - measurable financial costs which are above and beyond the normal levels of public health and safety services on a nonevent day. See the special event fee schedule for more information. Extraordinary services do not include the provision of police protection against hostile individuals targeting the event’s message or intentions.

The applicant is liable for and must pay to the city clerk the actual cost of all extraordinary services provided by the city and is required to pay 50% of the estimated extraordinary services prior to the special event with the remaining amount billed at the conclusion of the event. Sales tax will be added if applicable. By signing the applicant acknowledges that they have been made aware of this information

The special event requires insurance if the event includes at least one of the following: Alcohol - more than 200 people per day or - involves a road closure

• The applicant must furnish to the City, no later than 10 days prior to the special event, a certificate of insurance written by a company licensed in the State of Wisconsin, approved by the City Attorney and covering any and all liability or obligations which may result from the operations by the applicant's employees, agents, contractors or subcontractors, and including workers' compensation coverage in accordance with Ch. 102, Wis. Stats.

• The certificate must provide that the company will furnish the City with a ten-day prior written notice of cancellation, nonrenewal or material change. The insurance must be written in comprehensive form and must protect the applicant and City against claims arising from injuries to members of the public or damage to property of others arising out of any act or omission of the applicant, its employees, agents, contractors and The policy of insurance must provide minimum combined single limits for bodily injury and property damage of at least $1,000,000 per person/aggregate.

• If the event sells alcoholic beverages, liquor liability insurance with coverage limits of no less than $500,000 each occurrence and $500,000 aggregate.

• Said insurance policies shall be in force and effect at the time such event is to take place, and shall, by the acceptance of the permit, be deemed to agree to indemnify, defend and hold the City of Watertown harmless for all damages of any variety.

• Said policy must be endorsed naming the City of Watertown, its elected and appointed officials, officers, employees or authorized representatives or volunteers as additional

• If an event organizer is self-insured, it must provide evidence of alternative proof of coverage, in a form acceptable to the City Clerk. The City shall be named an additional insured.

For more information, contact the City Clerk's Office at (920)262-4010 or email City Clerk's Office