The season to enjoy outdoor events in New York City is well underway. Ensure you are prepared for your outdoor event by reviewing our tips on Temporary Place of Assembly (TPA) permits below.

TPA permits are required by the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) when 75 or more persons are gathered indoors, or when 200 or more persons are gathered outdoors with a common focus.  TPA permits are issued for events lasting up to 30 days and may be renewed beyond 30 days at the discretion of the Borough Commissioner’s Office.  

Cooking is not permitted under TPAs unless specifically requested by the applicant and approved by the Department of Buildings. Open flames for sternos, outdoor heaters, fire pits, etc., require approval by the Department of Buildings and Open Flame Permits are available through the FDNY and are issued upon payment at their TPA inspection.

The following items are required when submitting for a Temporary Place of Assembly (TPA):

• Request letters, which should be submitted to the Borough Commissioner’s Office, with a description of the event, date, time, location, occupancy, use, and owner’s authorization
• Signed and sealed plans showing the layout, associated DOB application numbers, fire protection systems, emergency measures, parking layout, sanitary facilities, and ADA accessibility
• Signed and sealed statement ensuring the plans’ accuracy
• A description of safety measures, including fireguards and communication lines to FDNY and NYPD
• For outdoor TPA events, plans must include dimensions and clear space for FDNY access
• $250 processing fee

TPA permits should be requested 10 days prior to an event.  If they are requested less than 10 days preceding the event, there is an additional fee of $100 for each day past the due date.  If the TPA request is submitted less than 3 days before the event, the Borough Commissioner’s Office reserves the right to reject the submission as the DOB may not have time to review and/or accept the application before the event is set to take place.  

If you have questions regarding how to obtain the proper permits for your upcoming event, contact the New York City office of Milrose Consultants. 

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