Apply to hold an outdoor event
You’ll need permission to host a festival, sporting event or wedding ceremony at one of our spaces.
Project Status: When you need to do this
You can apply to hold temporary events and wedding ceremonies or book a sports event at one of our parks and open spaces.
We can help you complete the application and determine if your chosen location and date are available.
You cannot book public spaces for private or corporate parties. This includes birthday parties, barbecue reservations, park area bookings or other public space bookings.
What you need to do
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Small gatherings
You don’t need to apply to hold picnics or small gatherings as long as you don’t bring large items such as private marquees or jumping castles.
You can’t book public barbecues. No private barbecues, small fires or naked flames are allowed in our parks and open spaces.
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Temporary events
- Complete an event application form (PDF, 76.14KB)
- Provide a copy of your associated public liability insurance certificate with your application.
What is a temporary event?
Examples of temporary events include festivals, street parades, charitable collections, sporting or team events, commercial activities and product sampling that engages the public.
Most temporary outdoor events running for up to 30 days do not need further planning approval. This includes events that use structures such as marquees, stages, signs and operational infrastructure.
Some temporary events can run for 52 days without needing further planning approval.
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Outdoor wedding ceremonies
Fill in our park/open spaces wedding ceremony application (PDF, 65.92KB) to make a booking.
- You can book a wedding ceremony at one of our parks and open spaces. These are booked in 3-hour blocks and we allow half an hour between each booking.
- Attendee numbers are limited to 35, including the wedding party.
- You can bring up to 30 chairs, a carpet and 1 table into the booked space. But you cannot bring catering, additional infrastructure or vehicles into the space.
- If you book Observatory Hill Park, you have exclusive use of the rotunda during your booking. You do not have private use of the rest of the park or open space for any park bookings and these areas remain open to the general public.
- If you book a park with a rotunda, you have exclusive use of the rotunda during your booking. You do not have private use of the rest of the park or open space and these areas remain open to the general public.
- Wedding ceremonies aren’t permitted in Paddington Reservoir Gardens.
- You do not need a permit or approval to take wedding photos on the same day as the ceremony, but drones are restricted for use in all spaces.
Guidelines for holding outdoor events
Our regulations and procedures.
Guides
How to ensure your event is sustainable, inclusive and accessible.
Land ownership
Our area includes some precincts that require applications and permits from other authorities.
The government landowners map will help you determine the authority for the area of your event.
Contacts for other authorities
Centennial Park, Queens Park, Moore Park, Driver Avenue and other roads within
- Centennial Parklands
- 02 9339 6699
Inside train stations
- Transport for NSW
- 02 8922 4392
Royal Botanic Garden, The Domain, Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, Hospital Road and other roads within
- Royal Botanic Garden
- 02 9231 8111
Circular Quay, The Rocks, Darling Harbour, Pymont wharves, Pyrmont Point and other areas of Pyrmont/Ultimo
- Property NSW
- 02 9240 8500
Sydney Opera House including forecourt areas
- Sydney Opera House
- 02 9250 7111
All state roads such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Anzac Bridge, Cahill Expressway, Western Distributor and Botany Road
- Roads and Maritime Services
- 02 8396 1400
