Event Planning Resources

Guide to Special Events in the City of Tampa

The Guide to Special Events is designed to provide event planners with the necessary information about the permitting, planning and producing your event in the City of Tampa.

Insurance Forms and Instructions for your Insurance Agent

Applicants are required to provide a commercial general liability insurance policy with a limit of $1,000,000 per occurrence and a $2,000,000 general aggregate, naming the City of Tampa as additional insured.

Additional Forms and Information for Conducting Special Events

Fire Prevention Information (Assembly Permits, Tent Permits, Fire Watch, Pyrotechnics)
HART/TECO Line Streetcar System (Any event adjacent to or impacting the normal operations of the TECO Line Streetcar System)
Tampa Police Department Extra Duty Information

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Food & Beverage at Special Events

Food items should be served and prepared in a sanitary manner consistent with Florida Department of Health. Vendors selling any food items and persons wishing to give away food are required to be in compliance with the established Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation guidelines for Temporary Food Service Events and have all the appropriate business licenses and insurance. Anyone who serves food to the public at a temporary food service event needs a license. Food may not be stored or prepared at private residences.

Inspectors from the State of Florida may be in attendance at any event held within the City of Tampa. Food vendors are required to meet the minimum standards of the State and be prepared to purchase a temporary food service license from the inspector.

The applicant must notify the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation of the following items no less than three business days prior to the scheduled event:

Type of food service proposed
Time and location of the event
Complete list of food service vendor owners and operators participating
Current license number of each public food service establishment participating

Applicants may complete notification requirements by telephone at (850) 487-1395, in person at the appropriate district office or in writing. For more information, please visit the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation Guide to Temporary Food Service Events.

Important Phone Numbers for Planning Your Special Event

BUSINESS TAX DIVISION 2105 N. Nebraska Ave.,Tampa,FL33602 Phone: (813) 274-8751 Fax: (813) 274-8723 This office is responsible for collecting fees for a variety of vending activities.	POLICE - SPECIAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT UNIT One Police Center 411 N. Franklin Street Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: (813) 276-3484 or 276-3386 Fax: (813) 276-3775 This office is responsible for reviewing events from a traffic and safety standpoint and determines the number of officers required for a given event.
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE 315 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: (813) 274-8397 Fax: (813) 274-8306 This office receives requests to use the City Seal.	RISK MANAGEMENT One Police Center (2nd Floor) 411 N. Franklin Street Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: (813) 274-5737 Fax: (813) 274-5728 This office reviews all insurance submitted to the City relative to requirements established to protect the city from claims as a result of event activity.
CODE ENFORCEMENT 2105 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: (813) 274-5545 Fax: (813) 274-8723 This office conducts inspections of vending operations to ensure compliance with code and Business Tax issues.	SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT 4010 W. Spruce St., Tampa, FL 33607 Phone: (813) 348-1111 Fax: (813) 348-1166 This office makes recommendations regarding event clean up, may be hired to provide dumpsters and staff for event clean up.
FIRE MARSHAL 3402 W. Columbus Dr., Tampa, FL 33607 Phone: (813) 274-7000 Fax: (813) 274-7144 This office issues assembly, tent, and fireworks permits, conducts LP tank installation inspections and Fire Watches. Formulates requirements on the number and size of safety exits required for fenced events and wet zoned areas. This determination affects the requirement for the number of police officers required for wet zoned events.	STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL REGULATION Division of Alcohol and Tobacco 1313 Tampa St., Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: (813) 272-2610 Fax: (813) 272-2848 This office is responsible for permitting temporary one day wet zonings for the State of Florida in conjunction with permitting required by the City of Tampa, Land Development and Zoning Coordination Office.
FIRE RESCUE 808 E. Zack St., Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: (813) 274-7007 Fax: (813) 274-7006 This office coordinates on site Fire/EMS personnel and equipment.	STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL REGULATION Division of Hotels and Restaurants 3725 West Grace St., Suite 520, Tampa, FL 33607 Phone: (813) 356-1607 Fax: (813) 356-1612 This office is responsible for licensing and inspection of mobile food units (both for profit and non-profit operations) as well as on-site inspections of food service operations at special events.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE TAX DIVISION 601 E. Kennedy Blvd. (14th Floor), Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: (813) 307-6549 Fax: (813) 307-6591 Events involving sales of any type are required to pay an appropriate license tax fee to Hillsborough County.	TAMPA DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP - CLEAN TEAM P.O. Box 2387, Tampa, FL 33601 Lynda Remund, Director of Programs Phone: (813) 221-3686 Fax: (813) 229-1328 The Tampa Downtown Partnership contracts for the provision of the "Clean Team" employees (along with the Downtown Guides). You can request the services of the Clean team during and following your special event to assist with clean up. Fees are set by the Tampa Downtown Partnership.
LAND DEVELOPMENT COORDINATION 306 E. Jackson St. (3rd Floor), Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: (813) 274-8405 Fax: (813) 274-7706 This office reviews property zoning for appropriateness of vending operations and processes applications for Special Use Applications for Temporary Alcoholic Beverage sales.	TAMPA RIVERWALK 306 E. Jackson St., Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: (813) 274-8162 Fax: (813) 274-8127 This office focuses on developing activities along the Tampa Riverwalk.
PARKING DIVISION 107 N. Franklin St., Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: (813) 274-8177 Fax: (813) 274-8921 This office coordinates parking meter reservations and provides information on flat lots and garages.	TECO LINE STREETCAR SYSTEM 1201 E. 7th Ave., Tampa, FL 33605 Phone: (813) 223-6831 Fax: (813) 223-7976 This office will assist in coordination should your event impact the HART TECO Line (fixed rail) streetcar operations.
PARKS AND RECREATION 3402 W. Columbus Dr., Tampa, FL 33607 Phone: (813) 274-8615 Fax: (813) 274-7744 This office manages all city parks and recreation amenities coordinates their use.	TRANSPORTATION 306 E. Jackson St., Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: (813) 274-8333 Fax: (813) 274-8901 This office is responsible for events involving street closures. They develop Maintenance of Traffic Plans (detailed maps indicating the placement of barricades, signage, etc. along with re-routing information so as to provide the least disruption to normal traffic. Also provides installation of traffic maintenance devices.
POLICE EXTRA DUTY OFFICE One Police Center 411 N. Franklin Street Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: (813) 276-3385 or 276-3386 Fax: (813) 276-3389 This office is responsible for coordinating all Extra-duty services.	YBOR CITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (YCDC) 2015 E. 7th Ave., Tampa, FL 33605 Phone: (813) 274-7936 Fax: (813) 274-7935 This office advises on issues affecting the development and improvement of Ybor City.

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