City to limit event permits for SXSW

On Friday, the City of Austin announced it will limit the number of temporary event permits issued in March. In a news release, officials said, “Because of the growing concerns over venue, participant and pedestrian safety during the spring music festival season (concurrent with South by Southwest), the Austin Center for Events expects to reduce the number of temporary event permits issued during the period of March 13 – 22 by 25 percent.” To that end, ACE expects to stop accepting applications in early February. This year, the city will also change its policy on amplified sound and music for temporary events, with curfews of 10:30 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, 11 p.m. on Thursday and midnight on Friday and Saturday for venues more than 600 feet from zoned residential properties. Venues that are closer than 600 feet will have sound curfews of 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The city statement also warns, “For existing, permitted outdoor music venues, the code allows for extended hours up to 2 a.m. This is not, however, a vested right, and venues interested in an extension must complete a Sound Impact Evaluation that will help determine appropriate cutoff times.”