What counts as an event?

Our parks and green spaces are intended for informal use including exercise, relaxation, socialising, family parties, picnics, and other small, non-commercial gatherings. These are generally considered ‘normal enjoyment’. These do not require permission and are not classed as events.

For the purposes of this website, an ‘event’ is an organised gathering on Council land within the City and District of St Albans that:

Is organised by a public agency, business, school, or community/special-interest group;
Has 50 or more attendees; and
Cannot be considered ‘normal enjoyment’ of the space (see below for definition of normal enjoyment)

If your gathering meets the definition of an event, please visit this page to check whether it is likely to be approved. You should then complete an Event Notification Form and send it to events@stalbans.gov.uk.

Please also refer to the section on Permitted Development below, which explains why the number of event days allowed in any one location is limited.

If you're still uncertain about whether your gathering counts as an event or not, you can fill in this online questionnaire, which we hope will clarify it for you.

What is 'normal enjoyment'? Toggle accordion

Normal Enjoyment of Council Land meets the following criteria:

does not include electricity, gazebos or sound systems
guests are usually known to one another
no publicity is distributed about the gathering
food is provided by guests for their own enjoyment and does not involve external caterers or items being sold to the public in any form
Council Land is not fenced off, outlined or demarcated in any way either before or during its use

Permitted development Toggle accordion

Given that events are, by definition, not part of 'normal enjoyment' of the space, they are said to constitute a ‘change of use’. Each space will have only a certain number of days per calendar year on which such change of use is permitted – usually 28 days (under Schedule 2, Part 4, Class B of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015). This is referred to as ‘permitted development’. Note that the 28 days includes any time needed for set-up and break-down of events. If any event requires more days than can be allocated under permitted development, then planning permission is required.

This is why such careful consideration needs to be given to which events are permitted in a particular space.

Please note that it is the responsibility of the land-owner to make sure that they are not allowing too many event days on their land. If you are planning to operate an event on private land, you, as the event organiser, should check with the land-owner that they are aware of their responsibilities in this regard.

Types of event Toggle accordion

Commercial – an event that is intended to generate a profit such as festivals, commercial music, theatre or comedy events, trade fairs, corporate events, marketing activities for profit making organisations, and funfairs and circuses. Any event where there is profit, will be classified as commercial, regardless of whether it falls in any of the other categories below.

Charity – an event that is organised with the sole purpose of raising money for charity. All proceeds (over and above costs) will be for charity.

Community – an event that is organised by a charity, voluntary or community group in support of the community, for the benefit of the District or local residents. A community event is free for the public to attend and there will be no significant commercial benefit opportunities for profit-making businesses.

Funfair – an event that brings in four or more fairground rides.

Education – an event organised by an education establishment for their students or wider community.

Promotional/marketing events - Promotions, product launches, road shows or media events, generally open to the public.

Private hire and corporate events – These may include weddings, private parties, away-days, conferences, gala dinners, award ceremonies, and other similar events. These will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Market - Anything that has five or more traders; is open to the public (free of charge); and is within 6⅔ miles of St Albans Market, Harpenden Market or Redbourn Market counts as a market and would require a licence from the St Albans Markets team because St Albans City & District Council is the Market Authority in this area.

Event sizes Toggle accordion

Size of event is determined based on the number of attendees expected:

Size	Number of attendees
Small	0 – 499
Medium	500 – 2,499
Large	2,500 – 4,999
Extra large	5,000 – 19,999
Major	20,000+

What is not considered an 'event'? Toggle accordion

Small group or organised sporting or fitness activities, generally involving fewer than 50 participants per session, for which there are separate booking or licensing processes in place https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/asset-management
Residential street parties are not considered public events and must not be advertised to people who do not live in the area immediately around any road closure. Applications to close a road for a street party must be done via Herts County Council https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/highways-roads-and-pavements/changes-to-your-road/street-parties-and-special-events.aspx
Filming – https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/filming-district
Trading at St Albans Market– https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/trade-st-albans-markets
Concessions stall or van in one of the parks or green spaces – https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/asset-management
Handing out flyers – Anyone wanting to hand out promotional or advertising flyers or provide free giveaways to the public should apply for a street trading licence – https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/street-trading-consents
Pop-up activities and promotions - if you are a charity or businesses and would like to provide an activity, performance or promotion in the city centre on a busy market day, we have opportunities available www.stalbans.gov.uk/st-albans-market-activities-and-events. For non-market days, please contact events@stalbans.gov.uk.
Street trading - If you wish to sell something, including handing out forms to sign up to a membership or paid-for service in the city centre on a non-market day, this is not considered an event, so is not covered by these rules. In this instance you will most likely need to apply for a street trading consent to trade in the city centre https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/street-trading-consents.
Activities that constitute Normal Enjoyment.

Informal gatherings in parks - please note Toggle accordion

If your gathering falls within ‘normal enjoyment’, we request you adhere to the following:

You must not fence off or mark out any part of the park in a way that prevents access for other users.
You may bring small, portable toys or play equipment, but these must be removed afterwards and must not cause nuisance or restrict access. For organised sport, please book a pitch here.
Inflatable items (such as bouncy castles) are not permitted.
Please take all rubbish home with you or use the bins provided. Do not leave waste beside full bins, as this is considered fly-tipping.
Fires, BBQs, fireworks, camping stoves and similar items are not permitted on Council land.
Gazebos and marquees are not permitted for private use due to safety risks and the sensitive nature of many park spaces.
Gatherings should involve fewer than 50 people (including organisers), most of whom should be known to the organiser.
Events must not be publicly advertised (invitations to individuals are acceptable).
There must be no charge for entry or participation.

If your plans meet all of the above conditions, you do not need to submit an application to the Council. If it does not meet these conditions, then it may be considered an event, in which case you should fill in and submit an Event Notification Form to events@stalbans.gov.uk.