Block Parties

The Village of Cary permits the closing of streets for block parties on local residential streets under the jurisdiction of the Village of Cary. The Village reserves the right to deny approval to close a street for a block party if there are concerns regarding public safety, traffic circulation, and/or conflict with other community events/activities. 

Application Process

  • An application requesting approval for the block party must be submitted to the Public Works Department indicating the location and time of the event. A main point of contact must be designated should any problems arise due to the block party.
  • The designated person’s name, address, and telephone number will be supplied to the Police Department.
  • Block party applications are only accepted for parties held between April 1 and October 31. 
  • Residents may provide a secondary date for the requested block party in the event of inclement weather. 
  • Residents must notify the Public Works Department of any cancelations or date changes.  
  • To request a Block Party on your street,please click here to complete the online Block Party Application or call the Village of Cary at 847-639-0003.

When planning a block party, please consider the following regulations:

  • All outside activities must end by 11:00 PM or sooner if so designated in the permit. Barricades must be removed from the street by this time and placed along the parkway at the location designated on the application.
  • A block party application will act as the notification to the Village for the use of loudspeakers and amplifiers. Block parties must follow loudspeaker/amplifier noise restrictions as outlined in the Village Code under Sec. 5.20.040. An additional waiver may be required for an extension of hours.  
  • Access to driveways within the block party area may be required by other residents on the street and must be granted. 
  • Only barricades provided by the Public Works department may be used to close the road.
  • Two barricades will be dropped off before 3:30 PM on the last working day, excluding weekends and holidays, prior to the block party (example – Friday barricade drop-off for block parties held on a weekend). The barricades will be collected on the next working day following the block party at the driveway of the designated person’s address. The applicant is responsible for putting barricades in place and removing them. 
  • Once barricades are in place, no vehicle through traffic is allowed except for emergency vehicles or other neighbors on the street that reside within the block party area.
  • The block party organizer is responsible for the costs associated with the rental, return and general condition of the barricades. Lost, stolen or damaged barricades will be assessed a fine of $50.00 per barricade.
  •  Block parties may not obstruct public sidewalks or parkways with barricades, ropes, or other objects.
  • No fire hydrants may be obstructed by block party activities.
  • No structures, including grills, tents, picnic tables, etc. are allowed in the public right-of-way (streets, sidewalk, parkway).
  • The serving or consumption of alcoholic beverages in the public right-of-way is prohibited and must be restricted to private property areas.
  • All litter produced by the event must be removed from the public right-of-way by the end of the block party.
  • The block party organizer will be responsible for the failure to appropriately remove litter and will be assessed a fine in an amount not less than $25.00 and not more than $500.00.
  • Applicants may request visits from the Police Department for the children; however, visits are not guaranteed and restricted based upon the Police Department’s call volume/activity.