Temporary events held in the unincorporated area of Riverside County generate large gatherings that include guests, participants, vendors and spectators and continue to grow in frequency of occurrence and number of attendees. As a result, these temporary events are increasing the need for county services and resources and intensifying adverse impacts to surrounding neighbors and properties. These adverse impacts include, but are not limited to noise, trash, parking difficulties, and disruption to the normal flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Therefore, in order to minimize these adverse impacts and to protect the public's health, safety and general welfare, the board of supervisors has enacted the following provisions to regulate and control, in a content neutral manner, temporary events that are conducted on developed or undeveloped property in the unincorporated area of the County of Riverside that do not constitute a land use of sufficient magnitude or longevity to require permanent land use entitlements.

(Ord. No. 348.4966, § 1, 10-19-2021)

The following terms shall have the following meanings for the purposes of this chapter:

A.

Annual temporary event. A temporary event that occurs once a year in succeeding years that takes place solely on private property or a combination of private property and public right-of-way.

B.

Attendees. Guests, staff, vendors and any other person present at a temporary event.

C.

Tier I event. A temporary event attended by no more than fifty (50) attendees per day.

D.

Tier II event. A temporary event attended by fifty-one (51) to one hundred (100) attendees per day.

E.

Tier III event. A temporary event attended by one hundred one (101) to three hundred (300) attendees per day.

F.

Tier IV event. A temporary event attended by three hundred one (301) to six hundred (600) attendees per day.

G.

Tier V event. A temporary event attended by six hundred one (601) to one thousand (1,000) attendees per day.

H.

Tier VI event. A temporary event attended by over one thousand (1,000) attendees per day.

I.

Commercial temporary event. A temporary event at any location intended to either generate financial gain for the property owner or temporary event sponsor or to advertise services, products or goods. For the purposes of this chapter, a commercial temporary event does not include a temporary event sponsored by or intended to benefit any organization that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) or Section 501(c)(4) of the United States Internal Revenue Code.

J.

Established facility. An existing legally permitted facility that is designed and constructed to accommodate events where the public is invited with or without charge.

K.

Seasonal temporary event. A temporary event occurring on a private lot during a specific season for a specific duration on consecutive or non-consecutive days such as, but not limited to, Christmas tree sales, pumpkin sales, or Halloween events.

L.

Temporary event. An indoor or outdoor event held on privately owned property that is not an established facility, to which attendees are present whether open to the public or a private event, with or without charge. Temporary events include, but are not limited to, festivals, concerts, dances, rallies, stage or theatrical shows, sports events, equine events, fairs, carnivals, rodeos, automobile sales, wedding ceremonies and receptions, off-road vehicle sales, animal sales or events, art shows, heavy equipment auctions, charity events, tent revival meetings, and race events that take place either solely on private property or on private property and within the public right-of-way.

(Ord. No. 348.4966, § 1, 10-19-2021)

The following temporary events are prohibited:

A.

Any temporary event with more than one hundred (100) attendees on lots ten thousand (10,000) square feet or less.

B.

Any temporary event with more than three hundred (300) attendees on lots less than one gross acre.

C.

Any temporary event with more than six hundred (600) attendees on lots less than five gross acres.

D.

Any temporary event with more than one thousand (1,000) attendees on lots less than twenty (20) gross acres.

E.

Commercial temporary events on lots zoned R-R, R-R-O, R-1, R-1A, R-A, R-2, R-2A, R-3, R-3A, R-T, R-T-R, R-5, R-6, R-7, C/V, C-C/V, WC-W, WC-WE, WC-E, R-D, W-2-M, or MU.

F.

Commercial temporary events within dwellings located in any zone classification.

(Ord. No. 348.4966, § 1, 10-19-2021)

A.

A temporary event permit shall not be required for the following:

1.

Temporary events held at a legally existing established facility and operating consistent with any approved land use entitlement for the established facility.

2.

Temporary events on a lot one gross acre or greater attended by less than one hundred (100) attendees.

3.

Temporary events on a lot greater than ten (10) gross acres attended by less than three hundred (300) attendees.

4.

Temporary events taking place entirely on public property or property owned by or leased by a public school district for use as a public school site.

5.

Temporary events taking place solely in a public right-of-way, including a funeral procession, a race or parade, provided all other required state and local permits and licenses are obtained, including, but not limited to, encroachment permits, road closures, environmental health permits, and alcoholic beverage control permits.

6.

Weddings, birthday parties, graduation parties, or other similar events held at a dwelling, provided that there are no more than one hundred (100) attendees and no more than four events occur on the same lot within a twelve-month period.

7.

Fund raising events, provided that the events are held on private property other than a dwelling, are limited to a maximum of two days a month for each sponsoring organization, and are sponsored by an educational, charitable, religious, or nonprofit group.

8.

Garage sales held at a private dwelling, provided that the events comply with all applicable laws and regulations including, but not limited to, Riverside County Ordinance No. 593.

B.

Temporary events shall comply with the following:

1.

Except for seasonal temporary events, temporary events shall occur for no more than four consecutive days with a separation of at least four days between a temporary event and other events held on the same lot.

2.

Only a total of four temporary events, including seasonal temporary events, shall occur on the same lot per calendar year.

3.

Seasonal temporary events shall not exceed a total of sixty (60) calendar days for each seasonal temporary event.

C.

Temporary events that are not required to obtain a temporary event permit pursuant to this chapter are still required to comply with all other applicable laws and health and safety regulations including, but not limited to, Environmental Health, Fire and Building Code regulations.

D.

Unless otherwise provided for in an approved land use permit, when a temporary event permit is not required pursuant to this chapter only four temporary events shall occur on the same lot within a twelve-month period.

(Ord. No. 348.4966, § 1, 10-19-2021)

A.

Applications for seasonal temporary events, tier I, tier II and tier III events shall be made in accordance with chapter 17.216 of this title at least sixty (60) days before the temporary event.

B.

Applications for annual temporary events, commercial temporary events, tier IV, tier V and tier VI events shall be made in accordance with chapter 17.216 of this title at least ninety (90) days before the event.

C.

All of the procedural provisions of chapter 17.216 of this title shall apply to the application, except section 17.216.040 thereof related to requirements for approval, section 17.216.060 thereof relating to appeals and section 17.216.070 thereof relating to use of the permit after the application is approved.

D.

At the time of filing the application for a temporary event permit on a form provided by the planning department, the applicant shall also provide the applicable fee for processing the permit.

E.

Action taken on temporary event permit applications shall be ministerial and not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act.

F.

Applications for commercial temporary events shall include the name, address and telephone number of the organization, the authorized head of the organization, and, if applicable, a certification that the organization is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) or Section 501(c)(4) of the United States Internal Revenue Code.

(Ord. No. 348.4966, § 1, 10-19-2021)

An application for a temporary event permit shall not be processed and shall be summarily denied in the following circumstances:

1.

A total of four temporary events, including seasonal temporary events, have already occurred at the subject location in a twelve-month period.

2.

The county has received five separate substantiated complaints for the subject location within the last twelve months from application submittal date related to noise, odors, outdoor illumination, traffic, parking or rubbish.

3.

Within the last twelve (12) months from application submittal date, the applicant violated the terms of an approved temporary event permit resulting in revocation of the approved temporary event permit.

4.

The application does not comply with the approval requirements set forth in this chapter.

(Ord. No. 348.4966, § 1, 10-19-2021)

The planning director shall approve an application for a temporary event permit if:

1.

The number of temporary events occurring at the subject location set forth in in section 17.256.060 of this chapter has not been exceeded.

2.

There is no pending code enforcement action on the lot or lots underlying the proposed temporary event location and the county has not received five separate substantiated for the subject location within the last twelve (12) months from application submittal date related to noise, odors, outdoor illumination, traffic, parking or rubbish.

3.

An access and parking plan has been approved by the county transportation director and the county fire chief or their respective designees. Off-site parking on unpaved sites is only allowed if the following has been approved with the parking plan:

a.

A dust mitigation plan;

b.

A site restoration plan.

4.

The temporary event complies with all applicable requirements of Ordinance No. 787 and a fire protection plan has been approved by the county fire chief or his designee.

5.

If the temporary event includes a display of fireworks, all required permits for the fireworks display has been obtained in accordance with Ordinance No. 858.

6.

A security operations plan has been approved by the county sheriff or his designee.

7.

An emergency medical services plan has been approved by the county fire department.

8.

A sewage disposal, potable water and food service operation plan and all required environmental health permits have been approved by the county director of environmental health or his designee.

9.

A noise, dust and lighting mitigation plan has been approved by the county planning department.

10.

Temporary permits for structures, canopies, and electrical use have been approved by the county building and safety department.

11.

All required permits to operate within the public right-of-way has been obtained by the applicant.

(Ord. No. 348.4966, § 1, 10-19-2021)

Temporary events on lots zoned R-R, R-R-O, R-1, R-1A, R-A, R-2, R-2A, R-3, R-3A, R-T, R-T-R, R-5, R-6, R-7, C/V, C-C/V, WC-W, WC-WE, WC-E, R-D, W-2-M, or MU shall not operate between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. All other temporary events shall not operate between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.; however, if located within the Eastern Coachella Valley Area Plan and it's a Tier IV, Tier V, or Tier VI temporary event, it shall not operate between the hours of 4:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.

(Ord. No. 348.4966, § 1, 10-19-2021; Ord. No. 348.4980, § 1, 4-5-2022)

As part of an approved temporary event permit, the planning director shall allow tents, recreational vehicles or motorhomes to be used during the duration of the temporary event, including overnight stays, if all of the following is met:

1.

The approved parking plan demonstrates on-site overnight areas located on paved, turfed or graded lots, emergency access and emergency water supplies.

2.

The approved sewer disposal plan includes provisions requiring the use of individually contained sewer waste removal systems.

3.

Except for contained propane to be used with barbeque grills and contained gasoline for generators, the approved fire protection plan includes prohibiting hazardous materials from being kept or maintained in the overnight areas.

4.

The approved fire protection plan includes allowing only contained propane gas campfires and prohibiting open wood campfires, unless otherwise approved by the county fire chief or his designee.

5.

Quiet hours for the overnight areas are observed from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.

6.

The approved noise, dust and lighting plans prohibits amplified sound and requires the overnight areas to be restored to their original condition at the conclusion of the temporary event.

(Ord. No. 348.4966, § 1, 10-19-2021)

No person shall advertise, sell or furnish tickets for a temporary event until a permit has been obtained in accordance with this chapter.

(Ord. No. 348.4966, § 1, 10-19-2021)

The planning director may require an applicant for a temporary event permit to post a bond or to otherwise financially secure that the event location is restored to its original condition and that the county is fully reimbursed for any unanticipated law enforcement or emergency services expenses. The planning director shall determine the amount of the bond or other security and the applicant shall post it with the county building and safety director or deposit it with the transportation and land management agency. The planning director may also require an applicant for a temporary event permit to obtain indemnity or liability insurance naming the county as the insured.

(Ord. No. 348.4966, § 1, 10-19-2021)

A.

The planning director shall mail the notice of decision for the temporary event permit to the applicant, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, county fire department, code enforcement departments and any person who has made a written request for a copy of the determination.

B.

No less than ten (10) calendar days before the temporary event, the applicant shall mail a notice of the approved temporary event permit to all properties located within six hundred (600) feet of the exterior boundaries of the subject location and any associated gathering locations included in the temporary event permit. Such notice shall include the date and time of the temporary event, and contact information for the permittee, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, the Riverside County Code Enforcement Department and the County Planning Department.

C.

Every temporary event permit required by this chapter shall be conspicuously posted upon the lot or premises of the temporary event no less than ten (10) calendar days before the temporary event in a manner specified by the planning department.

(Ord. No. 348.4966, § 1, 10-19-2021)

The planning director's decision is final.

(Ord. No. 348.4966, § 1, 10-19-2021)

Any temporary event permit issued pursuant to this chapter shall not be transferable to any other date, organization, person, place, or time.

(Ord. No. 348.4966, § 1, 10-19-2021)

A.

The temporary event permit shall remain in effect for the duration of the temporary event that is the subject of the temporary event permit. The temporary event permit shall become null and void at the conclusion of the temporary event.

B.

Except for annual temporary events, a new temporary event permit shall be required for any subsequent temporary event held at the location.

C.

Approved annual temporary event permits shall be effective for three years so long as the annual temporary event remains as originally approved and complies with the provisions of the temporary event permit, the provisions of this chapter and all applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.

(Ord. No. 348.4966, § 1, 10-19-2021)

A.

A temporary event permit may be immediately suspended upon any of the following conditions:

1.

If the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, fire department, code enforcement department, building official, planning director or other county official, or their designated representatives, find that any of the provisions of this chapter, another county ordinance, the approved temporary event permit or other applicable law is being violated.

2.

When, in the judgment of any of the above named county officials, the use is detrimental to the public health, safety or general welfare, or is a public nuisance.

3.

The applicant made or allowed to be made a false or misleading statement or omission of material fact on a temporary event application that was not discovered until after the temporary event permit was approved.

4.

The permit holder or property owner refuses to allow representatives from the Riverside County Department of Code Enforcement, planning department, fire department, sheriff's department, environmental health department, public health and agricultural commissioner's office to enter the property to ensure compliance with the approved temporary event permit and all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.

B.

Upon suspension of a temporary event permit, the planning director or designee shall do the following:

1.

Within twenty-four (24) hours of being notified of the suspension, mail a notice of revocation and findings by certified mail to the property owner and temporary event permittee.

2.

The revocation by the planning director shall be final unless the property owner or temporary event permittee submits a written appeal of the revocation to the transportation and land management director within twenty-four (24) hours of receiving the notice of revocation. Such appeal shall include findings as to why the temporary event permit shall not be revoked.

3.

If a complete and timely written appeal is submitted, the transportation and land management director shall promptly make a determination on the appeal and provide written notice to the planning director and appellant. The transportation and land management director's determination is final.

(Ord. No. 348.4966, § 1, 10-19-2021)