The City of Tacoma announced Monday it has modified the way it handles processing for special event permit applications.

The city’s community and economic development department has taken over the responsibility from the City Clerk’s Office in a move that aims to assist special event planning and permitting customers, according to city officials.

“Not only does this move simplify the process for our special event planning and permitting customers, it also ensures that their technical requirements and any other services that they might need, such as promotion consultation and site visits, are given special attention,” said Kala Dralle, who currently handles film permits for the city and who will also be managing the special event permit application process.

Special event permit applications may be submitted up to 24 months in advance, prior to an event.

The following fee schedule is based on projected event attendance, and includes services such as staff review, permits for road closures and/or right-of-way obstructions, contact lists, map templates and, in some cases, engineered traffic control plans.

It does not include fire permits, complex engineered traffic control plans, portable restrooms, barricades and no-parking signs, business licenses, trash/recyclable pickups or police officers. A 10 percent discount will be applied to all special event applications received more than 60 days prior to the event date, and a non-refundable processing fee of $25 will be applied to special events that are cancelled by special event planning and permitting customers. Special event planning and permitting customers may also incur other expenses which are their sole responsibility.

Special consideration will be given on a case-by-case basis to special event planning and permitting customers without Web access, or who may be impacted by events in their neighborhoods.

Special event permit applications are available online here. To request a hard copy special event permit application, or for more information, please contact Kala Dralle at (253) 573-2523 or by sending correspondence to the City of Tacoma Special Events Office, Attention: Kala Dralle, 747 Market Street, Room 900, Tacoma, WA 98402.