Carnivals, parades and concerts now require $100 permit fee in Head of the Harbor

Organizers of carnivals, parades and concerts in Head of the Harbor must pay a $100 fee to apply for a special events permit under a new village policy.

The permit, which covers a number of public events in the village, is part of an effort to regulate large gatherings similarly to other municipalities.

Mayor Michael Utevsky said during a village meeting last week there was no mechanism for regulating commercial activities and special events.

"We thought it would be good to have a procedure so that not only would they be legalized, but they could be controlled in certain ways such as insurance, parking, traffic, etc.," Utevsky said.

The new code requires event organizers to show proof of public liability insurance of at least $1 million, according to the measure. The village can seek reimbursement for the expense of added police protection or other public safety measures to secure the event.

The $100 fee is nonrefundable and covers the cost of the application's review and site inspection. Fines for violations can run up to $500 for the first offense and up to $1,000 for additional ones.

Officials reviewed other municipalities' codes including the Town of Smithtown's, Utevsky said.

Smithtown also requires a $100 fee for special events. Applicants must also show proof of liability insurance and say where the event will be held and provide the type of equipment, facilities and amusements in operation. 

Nissequogue enacted its own special events code in 1977, according to Mayor Richard Smith. Gatherings of 200 people or more require a permit from the board of trustees. The village’s code also requires applicants to provide a bond.

Village of the Branch's code requires proof of communication with the Suffolk County Police Department if additional protection is needed. It also restricts activities in the village's historic district, Mayor Mark Delaney said. 

In May, the village resolved a yearlong dispute with St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church of Smithtown. The church had sued the village in 2024 over the denial of a request to hold a four-day "Family Festival."  The trustees eventually allowed the church to hold a three-day event on St. Patrick's grounds in October following a dispute that saddled taxpayers with more than $37,000 in legal fees. 

Delaney said the situation was "unique" because the church property on East Main Street was in the village's historic district. The village's code bars mechanical rides — which were to be a part of the festival  — in that district. To resolve the conflict, the church said its mechanical rides "and the majority" of the event would be outside the historic district toward the back of the church property.