Spring festival permit deadlines looming

Venues and event organizers hoping to secure amplified sound and temporary use permits for the upcoming festival season have a rash of permit deadlines coming up in February. Amplified sound permits – necessary for an event with amplified sound that’s not held in a city park or right of way – need to be turned in by Feb. 8 (for multiple days) or Feb. 17 (for a one-day event). Temporary change of use permits, which are necessary for certain festival pop-ups, have to be filed by Feb. 17, and temporary use permits (for some of the more unorthodox venues) are due by Feb. 28. File the paperwork at www.austintexas.gov/citystage, and do so quickly, because the city will be processing a mountain of these and only so many can be approved. For help navigating the permitting process, email specialevents@austintexas.gov or call 512-974-1000.