Block party permit

A block party is a great way to get your neighbours to come together.

Block parties are closures of residential streets by the local residents. They do not include closures by a business or for business purposes like sales, promotions, company events, festivals or extending business premises to the right of ways. Sidewalks must always be kept open and pedestrians allowed to pass.

Planning a block party

If your community decides to have a block party, please keep the following in mind:

• Completed applications must be submitted at least 7 days prior to the block party.
• Streets must be closed between intersections. Closing a street for half a block or along one side of the street only is not permitted.
• Operating a carnival, selling liquor, consuming liquor in the right-of-way or using fireworks is prohibited.
• The applicant is responsible for picking up, setting up and returning signs and barricades following a diagram provided with the block party permit.
• If you want to have a bonfire or burn barrel, you must also obtain an open air fire permit from the Winnipeg Fire Prevention Branch. Contact fireinspections@winnipeg.ca or (204) 986-8200 for further information. You will require your block party permit to apply.
• A noise permit from the Winnipeg Police Service is required for amplified sound. 

Application requirements

The application form must be completed and returned with the majority petition and certificate of insurance no later than 7 days prior to the event. 

Download block party application package (PDF, 874KB)

Petition

You must obtain a 50% majority petition of the affected property owners to hold a block party. An affected property owner is anyone with a fronting residence or an approach/driveway that cannot be accessed during the closure. A sample petition is in the application package.

We also recommend that you drop off notices to any homes that do not answer on the day you petition. The notice should include information about the block party, the date and times and your name and phone number. Remember, someone may be having an important event, like a wedding, at his or her residence on the day you are planning the block party.

Insurance

It is mandatory to have liability insurance for any event occurring on the public right of way. You may come on to the City’s insurance rider for a fee of $150 (2022 rate). The deductible is $2,500 per claim to be borne by the applicant to a maximum of $2,000,000 insured. This protects against liability for bodily injury or property damage arising out of events connected with the block party only. The insurance fee is not refundable.

Alternately, you may obtain insurance on your own. To obtain a quote from your insurance agent, provide the details of the block party closure and include the following paragraph to explain the type and amount of insurance required:

THE APPLICANT shall maintain, pay and provide the City with a certified true copy of a Certificate of Insurance of a Comprehensive General Liability insurance policy in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor in the amount of no less than Two Million ($2,000,000.00) Dollars all-inclusive, with The City of Winnipeg being named as an additional named insured and a cross-liability clause thereon, in connection with the work permitted to be undertaken hereunder prior to the commencement of the said work. Deductibles to be acceptable to the City and are to be borne by THE APPLICANT. THE APPLICANT shall maintain the policy of insurance until the total Performance of the said event.

A true copy of the certificate of insurance must be forwarded to:

The City of Winnipeg
Risk Management - Insurance Branch
3rd Floor – 185 King St.
Winnipeg, MB R3B 1J1

Your agent may email or fax a copy to insurance@winnipeg.ca or 204-986-6132, and then forward the hard copy if time is limited. Once your insurance is approved we will begin to process your application.

Processing permits

You can email, fax, mail or drop off your application and petition at least 7 days prior to the event at:

The City of Winnipeg
Public Works – Transportation Division
101-1155 Pacific Ave.
Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P1

Fax: (204) 774-6750
Phone: (204) 986-6006
Email: PWD-UOS-Permits@winnipeg.ca

Once we have processed your application we will contact you and arrange a time for you to pick up your permit in person or it will be emailed to you. 

Our general office hours are between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.; however, please phone ahead to ensure a permit clerk will be available to assist you. 

We accept cash, cheque, Interac, MasterCard, American Express and Visa. If you are paying by cheque, please issue a separate cheque for the barricade deposit. If you are picking up the barricades on the same day, please be at our office no later than 2 p.m. to ensure the Stores Division will be open when you arrive.

Barricades

Before picking up the barricades, a $53 deposit by cheque, MasterCard, American Express or Visa must be paid at the Transportation Division, 101-1155 Pacific Ave. when you pick up your permit. You will be given a receipt, a list of equipment and a diagram showing how the barricades are to be set-up. Present this paperwork when you pick up your barricades.

Barricades are distributed at our Stores Division at 1277 Pacific Ave. between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday to Friday, 204-986-2139. You will need a small truck or van to hold the barricades and signs. The barricades and sign posts are the largest items and are about 8’ long. Loading usually takes approximately 15 minutes.