If you are located in the Agricultural Land Reserve and are planning a for-profit gathering of up to 150 guests in Electoral Area D, a Farmland Special Event Permit is required. If you are located outside of the Agricultural Land Reserve and are planning a gathering of 200 guests or more, a Class I, Class II or Class III Special Event Permit is required.
Commercial (For-Profit) Events
A Special Event Permit does not replace zoning rules.
If you want to host a commercial (for-profit) event, your property must be properly zoned. If it is not zoned for Commercial Public Assembly Uses & Events in Pemberton or Squamish, you will need a Temporary Use Permit or Rezoning.
Events with 200 or more people also require a Special Event Permit.
If the property is in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), you may also need a Non-Farm Use Application.
Private or Family Events
Weddings, reunions, and parties held on property owned by the host family are not considered commercial events.
However, if the event will have 200 or more people, a Special Event Permit is required.
Class I, Class II and Class III SLRD Special Event Permits do have a cost associated with them.
| Special Event Permit Class | Number of Attendees | Consultation with Public Safety Agencies Required | SLRD Permit Processing Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farmland | 0-150 | No | $0 |
| Class I | 200-499 | Depends on the event. Please consult with the SLRD. | $100 |
| Class II | 500-999 | Yes | $200 |
| Class III | 1,000+ | Yes | $300 |
| Class III | 2,000 - 10,000 | Yes | $300 plus $100 for each additional 1,000 attendees |
| Class III | 10,000 - 20,000 | Yes | $300 plus $200 for each additional 1,000 attendees |
| Class III | 20,000+ | Yes | $300 plus $300 for each additional 1,000 attendees |
Yes. As a condition of granting a Farmland, Class I, II or III Special Event Permit, the Regional District will require proof of insurance to cover the agreement to indemnify and save harmless the Regional District as follows:
- Commercial General Liability of $1,500,000 for Farmland Special Events; $2,000,000 for Class I Special Events; $5,000,000 for Class II and Class III, minimum per occurrence in Canadian funds
- the document must include a cross liability clause
- Squamish-Lillooet Regional District must be “named insured” included in the coverage:
- 30 days prior written notice of cancellation or material change
Yes. A security deposit is required for Class II and III events against any damage the SLRD may be required to repair following an event. Minimum deposit amounts are:
- Class II $5,000
- Class III $10,000
Please refer to the Special Events Bylaw for more specific information about security deposits.
Yes. For Class II and III events, you are required to consult with local public health and safety agencies (RCMP, BC Wildfire Management Branch, BC Ambulance, and Vancouver Coastal Health). Please refer to the SLRD Special Events Bylaw for complete details.
The SLRD must receive an application for a Special Event Permit no less than 60 days prior to the first day of your event. However, for Class 2 and 3 events, it is recommended that you get in touch with the SLRD well in advance of the 60 day deadline – the SLRD may be able to assist you in coordinating planning with outside agencies like the RCMP and BC Ambulance.
No, it is not a condition of the permit that you notify your neighbours. The SLRD MAY distribute dates and locations of special events to provide notification to others in the community. However, we suggest that as a courtesy, you let your neighbours know if you are planning on hosting an event, and provide them with details of the event well in advance.
No. The SLRD approaches each permit as a unique event, and may look at things like complaints from neighbours, advice from public safety agencies, and whether any of the terms of previous Special Event Permits were violated before issuing future permits.
Currently, Special Event permitting is handled through the SLRD Emergency Program. Please get in touch with the Emergency Program Manager noted on this page with any questions you may have.