Carnivals, Fairs, and Festivals Operational Permit Application Greensboro Fire Department Fire and Life Safety Division 300 W. Washington Street Greensboro, NC 27401 (336) 373-7694 http://www.gfdnc.com Subject Property Note: Section 105.6.5 of the NC Fire Code - Carnivals and fairs (mandatory permit). An operational permit is required to conduct a carnival or fair.

Definitions as defined in Merriam-Webster’s 11th edition: Festival- an often periodic celebration or program of events or entertainment having a specified focus. Fair- a gathering of buyers and sellers at a particular place and time for trade. Carnival-a traveling enterprise offering amusements.

Submit Permit Application Here: https://form.jotform.com/201135154239043

***A Separate Greensboro City Special Events permit may be required. See Here:*** https://www.greensboro-nc.gov/departments/creative-greensboro/special-events/special-event-documents

Carnival, Fair or Festival Information Address Where Permit is Needed: ______Estimated Number of Attendees: ______Dates of the Event: ______Description of Event: ______

FEES (Billed by FIRE Recovery USA) $100 per compliance inspection Applicant Information Applicants Name: Phone: Email:

Applicants Address: Applicants Company Name:

DISCLAIMER This is an application to submit for a permit. Submittal of this document does not guarantee a permit. No occupancy can occur prior to receiving an inspection. Permit will be issued during the on-site inspection if no violations are present. I hereby certify that all information in this application is correct and all work will comply with the State Building Code and all other applicable State and local laws and ordinances and regulations. The Inspection Department will be notified of any changes in the approved plans and specifications for the project permitted herein.

Owner/Agent Signature ______

Required Attachments:  This application shall be accompanied by the following information, unless otherwise specifically modified by the Fire Marshal or his designee:

Required attachments:

Detailed Public Safety Plan that shall include all of the following:

• Emergency vehicle ingress and egress. • Fire protection. • Calculated Occupant Load. • Emergency egress or escape routes. • Emergency medical services. • Public assembly areas. • The directing of both attendees and vehicles, including the parking of vehicles. • Vendor and food concession distribution. • The need for the presence of law enforcement. • The need for fire and emergency medical services personnel. • List of all Trained Crowd Managers- to include names of each Crowd Control Manager. o One Crowd Manager will be required for every 250 people in attendance. • Location of all tents, food trucks and other amusements.

Other Considerations: ***A Special Events permit may be required:*** https://www.greensboro-nc.gov/departments/creative-greensboro/special-events/special-event-documents

Separate Permit required for Tents: 3103.2.2 Tents. Tents having an area in excess of 800 square feet.

Exceptions: 1. Tents used exclusively for recreational camping purposes. 2. Tents open on all sides without sidewalls, drops or other physical obstructions on 75 percent or more of the perimeter that comply with all of the following: 2.1. Individual tents having a maximum size of 1800 square feet. 2.2. The aggregate area of multiple tents placed side by side without a fire break clearance of 12 feet, not exceeding 1800 square feet total. 2.3. A minimum clearance of 12 feet to all structures and other tents.

 Please Note: Neither the City of Greensboro nor Guilford County shall be responsible for any injuries or damages to property by reason of issuance of permit or inspections made incident thereto.  This application and permit does not cover other requirements that may apply nor does it relieve the owner/applicant from the responsibility of obtaining other necessary permits or complying with requirements from other applicable regulatory agencies. Also, any violation of the requirements of this permit will subject the permit to revocation by the Fire Marshal’s Office.

Guideline Requirements for Festivals such as: Fun Fourth, City Stage, and similar events.

Comply with the following:

1. Obtain a permit from the City Managers Office. In accordance with Chapter 4, section 403 of the North Carolina Fire Code, a public safety plan shall be provided. Contact the Fire Prevention Bureau and submit a minimum of 2 copies of maps and complete support information showing streets to be closed, booths to be set up, types of activities, and other necessary information. Include details of means of ingress and egress for emergency vehicles with the plan. Information should be submitted at least 30 days in advance of the event start date.

2. The use of temporary booths, structures, canopies and tents is subject to the limitations of the North Carolina building and fire codes and are subject to inspections by the authority having jurisdiction.

2018 NC Fire Code Chapter 31 Tents and Membrane Structures 31 (Below is a snap-shot for some of the requirements of this chapter. See 2018 NCFC for full requirements) 3103.2 Approval required. Tents and membrane structures shall not be erected, operated or maintained for any purpose without first obtaining a permit and approval from the fire code official. 2.3. A minimum clearance of 12 feet (3658 mm) to all structures and other tents. 3103.2.1 Membrane structures. Membrane structures having an area in excess of 400 square feet. 3103.2.2 Tents. Tents having an area in excess of 800 square feet. Exceptions: 1. Tents used exclusively for recreational camping purposes. 2. Tents open on all sides without sidewalls, drops or other physical obstructions on 75 percent or more of the perimeter that comply with all of the following: 2.1. Individual tents having a maximum size of 1800 square feet. 2.2. The aggregate area of multiple tents placed side by side without a fire break clearance of 12 feet, not exceeding 1800 square feet total. 2.3. A minimum clearance of 12 feet (3658 mm) to all structures and other tents. 3. Funeral tents and curtains or extensions attached thereto, when used for funeral services. 3103.3 Place of assembly. For the purposes of this chapter, a place of assembly shall include a circus, carnival, tent show, theater, skating rink, dance hall or other place of assembly in or under which persons gather for any purpose. 3103.4 Permits. Permits shall be required as set forth in Sections 105.6 and 105.7. 3103.5 Use period. A temporary tent, air-supported, air-inflated or tensioned membrane structure shall not be erected for a period of more than 180 consecutive days within a 12-month period on a single premises. 3103.6 Construction documents. A detailed site and floor plan for tents or membrane structures with an occupant load of 50 or more shall be provided with each application for approval. The tent or membrane structure floor plan shall indicate details of the means of egress facilities, seating capacity, arrangement of the seating and location and type of heating and electrical equipment. 3103.7 Inspections. The entire tent, air-supported, air-inflated or tensioned membrane structure system shall be inspected at regular intervals, but not less than two times per permit use period, by the permittee, owner or agent to deter-mine that the installation is maintained in accordance with this chapter. Exception: Permit use periods of less than 30 days. 3103.7.1 Inspection report. Where required by the fire code official, an inspection report shall be provided and shall consist of maintenance, anchors and fabric inspections. 3103.9 Anchorage required. Tents or membrane structures and their appurtenances shall be adequately roped, braced and anchored to withstand the elements of weather and prevent against collapsing. Documentation of structural stability shall be furnished to the fire code official on request.

3. If permission is granted for the temporary closing of streets, the closing must be accomplished with movable barricades allowing quick fire department access. 20’ wide fire vehicle access lanes must be maintained at all times through all closed streets. Booths, stages, or any items placed in the streets for the event shall be placed so as not to threaten or endanger a property from exposure fire, and so as not to interfere with fire hydrants (Maintain a minimum of 3’ of clearance to hydrants, fire department connections, or any other fire protection equipment, or access and exits to buildings).

4. Before a tent permit is granted, the owner or agent shall file with the code official a certificate executed by an approved testing lab, certifying that the tent, canopy, floor covering, combustible decorative material and effects, including sawdust on floors, and any other combustible structural elements including drops, tops, sidewalls, and screens shall be composed of flame resistant material or shall be properly treated with a flame retardant and meet the requirements of NFPA 701 and the NC State Fire Code, and that any such flame resistance is effective for the period specified by the permit. 5. All electrical work shall be conducted by a licensed electrical contractor and shall be inspected by the city electrical inspection department. Electrical service for booths shall not be supplied from buildings, but from exterior power sources. All wiring and temporary cords shall be approved by the electrical inspections department. Extension cords shall be secured and located so as to not create a trip or shock hazard. (i.e. away from all water sources).

6. All compressed gas cylinders shall be secured by chain or other effective means. No flammable, toxic, or oxidizing gases are permitted. Gas lines shall be protected from damage.

7. Any cooking appliance using a fuel gas (LP or Natural ) shall be AGA approved. Gas appliances must be installed by licensed heating or plumbing contractors and inspected by the city heating inspection department. (373-2155)

8. Crafts involving welding, cutting, glass blowing, or similar type hot work shall be located so as to avoid endangering the public or creating a fire exposure hazard to other property. Open fires used for certain crafts shall be in an approved location, secured from the public and under constant supervision.

9. Portable fire extinguishers (ABC type with a minimum 2A rating), serviced within a 12 month period, are required in all booths, structures, and locations where wiring, cooking facilities, or any other ignition source or hazardous condition exists.

10. All buildings open for use by the public and/or the event staff shall meet the requirements of the NC State Building and Fire Prevention Code. If previously vacant buildings are placed into use, the building inspection department (373-2155) and fire prevention department (373-2177) shall be contacted for an inspection.

11. If any building is used for “haunted house”, contact building inspections and fire prevention in advance for inspections.

12. Keep all trash and debris removed to avoid creating hazardous conditions.

NOTE: For the purpose of the forthcoming requirements, the definition of “open to the public” is as follows…”Open to the public would allow the public to enter the tent; Closed to the public would allow the public to approach the perimeter of the tent but not enter the tent.”

13. Open flames or other devices emitting flame, fire, heat or any flammable or combustible liquids, gas, charcoal, or other cooking device or any other unapproved devices shall not be permitted inside or within 20’ of a tent, air- supported, or tensioned membrane structure while open to the public unless approved by the code official. ((Deep fat fryers, charcoal grills and any other open flame devices (gas grills and flame burners) are not permitted under tents that are “open to the public”)). Tents closed to the public where any cooking is performed shall be separated from other tents or canopies by a minimum of 20’.

Operational Permit Application 14. Any permitted tent where cooking is performed shall be flame resistant in accordance with the NC Fire Code. Any site built noncombustible booth requires a construction permit (336-373-2155) and shall contain 2 remote exits if equipped with deep fat fryers.

15. LP gas cylinders fueling equipment inside a tent or canopy shall be adequately protected to prevent tampering, damage by vehicles or other hazards and shall be located in an approved manner. Portable LP-gas containers shall be located outside tents and securely fastened in place to prevent unauthorized movement.

16. Generators and their refueling shall be in an approved location and shall be separated from tents by a minimum of 20’. Maintain a clearance of at least 3’ from combustibles.

17. Fireworks are regulated per the North Carolina State Fire Prevention Code and North Carolina General Statutes. Fireworks permits must be obtained from the Guilford County Board of Commissioners (336-641-3352), and shoots coordinated with Greensboro Fire and Life Safety.

18. Portable grills are not allowed (by any vendor or store owner) in any area that is occupied by the general public. Festival promoters are responsible for notifying all affected parties and for notifying all vendors of the cooking and tent limitations and regulations. The promoter shall be further responsible for determining that fire regulations are in compliance at all times.

19. All requirements of the North Carolina Building and Fire Prevention Code must be adhered to. If there are any conditions not included in this report which may involve a fire safety hazard, it shall be reported to Fire Prevention prior to the event or when initially recognized. Fire inspectors will check for compliance on site. Any violations may result in any operation being closed down until compliance is achieved .

Operational Permit Application