Community Events and Resources

All events taking place on Town of Newmarket property should be accessible and comply with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Please click below for more AODA resources for events: 

• Planning Accessible Events 
• Accessibility Laws 

Any event serving alcohol must comply with and sign the Town of Newmarket’s Municipal Alcohol Policy [PDF/23KB] and obtain a Special Occasion Permit (SOP) from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). Outdoor events serving alcohol are subject to management approval. 

You must submit the following a minimum of 14 days before your event: 

• A copy of the Special Occasion Permit 
• A signed Municipal Alcohol Policy 
• Two Smart Serve certifications for the servers at the event

Proof of the above should be submitted to: 

Recreation and Culture Department 
395 Mulock Drive, Newmarket ON

To have an amusement device or activity such and inflatables or rides at your event, you must: 

• Get approval from the Recreation and Culture department. 
• Use TSSA certified structures.
• Provide liability insurance naming the Town of Newmarket as an additional insured. Liability insurance can range from $2 million to $5 million depending on the type of activity. 

Please note that the Town of Newmarket does not permit the use of stakes (in the grass or on concrete/asphalt) to weigh down any amusement activities.

Due to insurance purposes, the Town of Newmarket does not permit inflatables that the public would climb on to be operated on Town property, including but is not limited to: 

• Bouncy castles
• Inflatable obstacles
• Slides or trampolines

Inflatables that the public would not climb on such as arches, mascots, sport games, etc. are permitted. 

• Read the Carnival By-law 

If you are planning to have animals participating at your event (i.e: pony rides, petting zoo, etc.) then you will be required to submit the following forms to be granted permission to have animals on Town property: 

• Animal Exemption Form A.doc
• Animals in Facilities Checklist.doc [DOC/170KB]

Submit completed applications to: 

Recreation and Culture Department 
395 Mulock Drive, Newmarket ON

If an animal exemption is approved, any petting zoo will be required to submit a vendor application form to York Region Public Health:

• Petting Zoo Vendor Application Form.doc [DOC/99KB]

Event organizers that wish to put up banners or flags along Main Street are required to fill out a Banner Application Form:

• Banner Application Form [PDF/53KB]

Applications are to be submitted at a minimum of 3 months prior to installation. Completed applications can be submitted in person to: 

Recreation and Culture Department
395 Mulock Drive, Newmarket ON

Please note that not all outdoor venues have electrical access. In the event that the location does not have electrical access, the permit holder will be required to rent portable generators. 

All permit holders are required to provide their own extension cords (in good working order and certified to be used outdoors) and cable mats. As part of your site plan, please indicate what your electrical needs are (e.g. 3, 110V plugs). 

If you are using the Town of Newmarket’s hydro, there will be extra fees associated. If your event requires an electrical tie-in, the permit holder will be required to hire their own electrician and pay for an ESA inspection.

Outdoor events that will have a perimeter fence surrounding their footprint will be required to submit their site plan to Central York Fire Services to obtain an occupancy number for the site. 

Gymnasium and Arena Floor events and some Hall/Lounge events such as a trade shows will need to submit their event floor plan to Central York Fire Services to obtain an occupancy number. 

Please submit your request to Central York Fire Services a minimum of 2 weeks prior to your event date.

For questions, please contact Central York Fire Services at 905-895-9222 or info@cyfs.ca. 

If you are planning to have a fireworks display or pyrotechnic display at your event, you will be required to submit a Display Fireworks and Pyrotechnics Application [PDF/45KB] at a minimum of 2 weeks prior to your event. 

Submit completed applications in-person to: 

Central York Fire Services
984 Gorham Street, Newmarket ON

For more information visit Central York Fire Services or call 905-895-9222.

Event organizers must arrange for first aid to be provided at their event. First aid could be provided by:

• Certified event staff on-site
• A contracted first aid company
• York Region Paramedic Services

If you do not have York Region Paramedic Services on-site, all large events on Town of Newmarket property should notify York Region Paramedics of the event and the appropriate emergency access routes. 

Community flag raising is available at the Peace Park Flagpole on Cane Parkway. See Proclamations, Lighting Requests and Community Flags for more more information. 

Applications must be submitted a minimum of 3 weeks prior to your event but not more than 3 months in advance. 

• Proclamation, Lighting and Community Flag Raising Request Form

A person onsite, present at the inspection must be certified in the Food Handler Certification Program. 

Make the switch to biodegradable and recyclable food service items (e.g. cups, plates, utensils, straws etc.). Reduce the number of plastic water bottles at your event by applying for the York Region Tap'd Water Truck.

All permit holders are required to have liability insurance. Liability insurance coverage may range from $2 million to $10 million depending on the type of event that you are hosting. The Town of Newmarket will advise applications as to the amount of insurance they will be required to have. 

If a permit holder is currently has a liability insurance policy, they are required to add the Town of Newmarket as an additional insured and provide a copy of the policy to the Recreation and Culture department a minimum of 14 days prior to the event.

Insurance is also available to purchase through the Town of Newmarket. This charge will be added as an extra fee to the permit. 

An event organizer may submit an application to request that the Riverwalk Commons and the Fred A. Lundy Bridge (located on Water Street) be illuminated in a particular colour to commemorate an event. Applications must be submitted a minimum of 3 weeks prior to your event but not more than 3 months in advance. 

• Lighting of Riverwalk Commons Application Form 
• Proclamations, Lighting Requests and Community Flags

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is responsible for overseeing licensed lottery events such as bingo, raffles etc. For more information regarding eligibility, please visit Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. 

Please contact our Legislative Services department at 905-953-5300 ext. 2220 regarding steps to obtain a license. 

If your event will be playing live or recorded music, a ReSound and SOCAN charge will be applied to your permit. For more information about each of these click below: 

• ReSound
• SOCAN

The Town of Newmarket does not permit amplified sound within our parks. Any event that is planning to use amplified sound will need to apply for a noise exemption. Please visit our Legislative Services department located at 395 Mulock Drive for more information regarding the noise exemption process.

• Read the Noise By-law

All outdoor burning such as fire pits must be approved through Central York Fire Services. You will need to request a Special Occasion Permit for Outdoor Burning in writing explaining your event to:

Central York Fire Services 
984 Gorham Street, Newmarket ON, L3Y 1L8
Or send by email to: info@cyfs.ca

Please submit your request to Central York Fire Services a minimum of 2 weeks prior to your event date.

• Learn more about outdoor burning and restrictions

An event organizer that is inviting food trucks or carts to their event must submit an application for Special Event Organizer Licence. All accompanying documentation and payment is due when the application is submitted. Applications must be submitted a minimum of 2 weeks prior to the event.

• Application for Special Event Organizer Licence [PDF/219KB]

Submit completed applications in-person to: 

Legislative Services
395 Mulock Drive, Newmarket ON

If you are a food truck or cart vendor that is looking to sign up for a year-long license with the Town of Newmarket, please contact Legislative Services for more information at 905-953-5300 ext. 2220.

• Refreshment Vehicle Owner Licence Application [PDF/287KB]

If your event requires promotional signs around Town prior to your event, you will be required to submit an application for a Sign Permit: 

• Sign Permit application [PDF/616KB]

Submit completed applications in-person to: 

Legislative Services
395 Mulock Drive, Newmarket ON

If you would like to put a road sign on a regional road, you will have to apply through York Region. 

• Read the Sign By-law 
• York Region Road Sign Permit

The Smoking By-law specifies that smoking and vaping of cannabis, tobacco and other products is prohibited on all municipally-owned property, which includes facilities, parks, open green spaces and trails. The by-law provides for the provision of Designated Smoking Areas at certain Town-owned facilities, where only smoking and vaping of tobacco will be permitted.

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act prohibits smoking or vaping of tobacco or cannabis on and within any public space that is: 

• 20 metres from:
  • Outdoor grounds of Town-owned recreational facilities (such as the Magna Centre or the Ray Twinney Recreation Complex)
  • Outdoor grounds of publicly owned sports fields and spectator areas
  • Outdoor grounds of public and private schools 
  • Children’s playgrounds and children’s play areas (e.g. parks, splash pads)
• 9 metres from restaurant and bar patios

The Act also prohibits smoking or vaping of tobacco or cannabis:

• In sheltered outdoor areas (e.g. bus shelters) 
• On hospital or community healthcare facility grounds

Special events taking place on Town of Newmarket property can apply for a Temporary Designated Smoking Area (DSA) within their event footprint. All DSAs must abide by the Smoke Free Ontario Act. 

• Cost: $50 per day
• Includes: approved DSA location, signage to mark the area and receptacles for butts

Submit completed applications in-person to: 

Legislative Services
395 Mulock Drive, Newmarket ON

The Town of Newmarket does not permit the use of tent pegs/stakes on Town property without a utility locate. All tents must be weighted down by canopy weights, sandbags, water weights, cinderblocks, etc.

Utility locates can be booked at the expense of the event organizer. More information can be found at Ontario One Call. 

Tents less than 60 square meters (10’x10’, 10’x20’ and 20’x30’) can be erected without a building permit. Any tent that is 60 square meters or greater will need to receive a building permit. Please note that tents are considered new construction. 

• Application for a Permit to Construct or Demolish [PDF/492KB]  

It is recommended that building permit applications be submitted a minimum of 3-6 weeks prior to your proposed event date. 

Submit completed building applications in-person to: 

Building Department 
395 Mulock Drive, Newmarket ON

For questions concerning the building permit, please call 905-953-5300 ext. 2400.

For more information please visit Building Permits.

Depending on the size and scope of your event, you may be required to have York Regional Police Paid Duty Officers at your event (e.g. festivals, large road closures, parades, alcohol etc.). The Town of Newmarket Recreation and Culture department, York Regional Police and the event organizers will discuss a risk assessment and the suggested number of paid duty officers required. 

• Book Paid Duty Officers