Municipal Permitting for Third-party Events

This masterclass explores the strategies, processes, and tools Canadian municipalities use to permit third-party events on public property. Participants will examine how municipal priorities, risk management considerations, and legislative requirements influence permitting decisions while learning best practices for balancing community access, public safety, and responsible use of civic spaces. Designed for Canadian municipal event professionals, parks and recreation staff, permitting coordinators, and cross-functional municipal teams, the course covers the full event permitting lifecycle - from application intake to permit approval and post-event review. Participants will gain practical knowledge of application review processes, event evaluation criteria, permit requirements, fees and deposits, compliance measures, and the roles of internal departments and external partners in supporting successful event approvals. By the end of the course, participants will have gained practical tools and actionable strategies to improve their municipality's permitting workflows, strengthen interdepartmental coordination, and develop transparent, accountable, and support community-focused event permitting systems. Course Format: This course is delivered through a flexible cohort model that combines self-guided online learning with the opportunity for live peer engagement. Learners can register at any time before the course end date and will have 30 days from their registration date to complete the course materials.  The course includes one optional live virtual connection session. While attendance is not required, this facilitated session is highly recommended to connect with municipal event professionals from across Canada, discuss common challenges, share experiences, and reinforce key course concepts.  Learning is supported through interactive knowledge-testing activities embedded throughout the course modules. There is no final exam or culminating evaluation. To successfully complete the course, learners must achieve a minimum score of 75% on each knowledge-testing activity. Unlimited attempts are provided, allowing participants to revisit the material and demonstrate mastery at their own pace.