It shall be lawful, as defined in this chapter, to hold or cause to be held a special event by first obtaining a special event permit from the Commissioner of Accounts. Persons holding a permit for a parade, as that term is defined in Chapter 151 of the City Code, shall not be required to obtain an additional permit under this chapter for the activity covered by the special event permit.
A. 
A "special event" is any event, occasion or celebration open to the public and held in or upon any public right-of-way, public street, public park or other public place or conducted in such a manner as to significantly impede public access to any public right-of-way, public street, public park or other public place.
B. 
Any person, corporation, partnership or other entity applying for a permit under this chapter, if installing/erecting a temporary structure, must comply with Chapter 216 of the City Code entitled "Temporary Structures."
C. 
Any person, corporation, partnership or other entity applying for a permit under this chapter must comply with Chapter 148 of the City Code entitled "Noise.
D. 
Any person, corporation, partnership or other entity applying for a permit under this chapter must comply with Chapter 61 of the City Code entitled "Alcoholic Beverages."
E. 
The following definitions shall apply to this chapter:
AWNING/CANOPY
A structure resembling a roof.
BANNER
Any sign, as defined herein, hung above a street, from a building, bridge structure or a vehicle or towed by a vehicle, including but not limited to an aircraft, watercraft or trailer.
CITY
The City of Saratoga Springs, New York.
CITY CLERK
The City Clerk of the City of Saratoga Springs, New York.
PARADE
Any procession of any kind in a public place in the City of Saratoga Springs that is intended to attract public attention and that does not comply with normal traffic regulations and control.
PUBLIC PLACE
Any place to which the public has unrestricted access, but "public place" shall not mean the interior floor space of any building or any space covered by part of a building's permanent roof.
SIGNS
Any display of words, symbols or other visual images made of cloth, paper, plastic, cardboard or other material or any combination of such display.
TEMPORARY STRUCTURE
A tent, awning, canopy or other device, with or without sides, used to cover an area.
TENT
A collapsible shelter, with or without sides, made of fabric, nylon or canvas stretched and sustained by poles and used as a temporary structure.
The following activities shall not require a permit under this article:
A. 
Funeral processions.
A. 
The following items or activities are prohibited:
(1) 
Banners. Banners, as defined, are prohibited.
(2) 
Explosives, fireworks or pyrotechnics. No person shall carry or possess any kind or mixture of explosives, fireworks or pyrotechnics.
(3) 
Flammable or combustible liquids or gases. Flammable or combustible liquids, compressed gases or gases cannot be carried or possessed.
(4) 
Injury, physical. The conduct of the special event is not reasonably likely to cause physical injury to persons or property.
(5) 
Interference with emergency services. The special event will not unduly interfere with proper fire and police protection or emergency services to contiguous areas of such assembly areas.
(6) 
Obscene material. No person shall display, carry or possess any obscene material as defined by § 235.20 of the NYS Penal Law.
(7) 
Noxious materials. No person shall use, carry or possess any noxious material of any kind or strength while participating in a special event.
(8) 
Projectile launchers. Projectile launchers or other devices commonly used for the purpose of launching, hurling, or throwing any object, liquid, material or substance cannot be carried or possessed.
(9) 
Sidewalks (blocking). No person or group of persons shall block any lawful use of a public sidewalk or any ingress to or egress from any building by standing within 15 feet of said doorway or entrance or any driveway to any building.
(10) 
Signs. No sign or combination of signs shall render impassable any public way or any ingress to or egress from any public way, or render passage to, from or across a public way unreasonably difficult or hazardous. Posters, plaques or notices mounted on a support or hand held, constructed solely of cloth, paper, plastic or cardboard material no greater than 1/4 inch thick are permitted. Signs must be of such size and construction as to be safely carried and displayed.
(11) 
Sirens or air horns. No person shall use, carry or possess any hand-carried or vehicle-mounted siren or air horn.
(12) 
Strong acid or base chemicals in solid, liquid or gas. No persons shall use, carry or possess any acidic or basic chemical regardless of its physical state.
(13) 
Traffic (blocking). No person shall block or otherwise interfere with highway, road or rail traffic to include ingress to or egress from a building or onto property.
A. 
The following items or activities have restricted use:
(1) 
Flyovers. Flyovers and aircraft trailing banners are not permitted unless requested for in the permit application in advance. A copy of the FAA authorization permit is required to be filed with the permit application.
(2) 
Firearms. Firearm use or carry, real or replica, whether for ceremonial use as in a color guard or not, must be approved in advance by the Police Department.
(3) 
Sound-producing or amplifying devices. The use of any sound-producing or amplifying devices is permitted if the sound is so as not to be heard at 250 feet and beyond the special event. The use of said equipment must also comply with restrictions and limitations contained in the Noise Ordinance of the City of Saratoga Springs.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 148, Noise.
(4) 
Electricity. Electrical connections are not publicly available from the City. The use of an electric generator is prohibited. Electrical connections from private property are permitted, provided such connections shall have been inspected by a certified Electrical Inspector as to safety and compliance with the National Electrical Code. A copy of the inspection shall be filed with the Commissioner of Accounts prior to said use.