Austin has a detailed tent permitting process managed by the Austin Center for Events (ACE) and the Austin Fire Department. Requirements depend on tent size, whether the tent has sidewalls, and how close it is to existing structures.
Tent Size Thresholds in Austin
Tents over 400 square feet with sidewalls, or over 700 square feet without sidewalls (canopy only), must be inspected by the Austin Special Events Division. Additionally, any tent or canopy over 100 square feet requires a Fire Department inspection if it is within 20 feet of a building or structure.
For events with 50 or more attendees, you must submit an ACE (Austin Center for Events) application — a separate tent permit application is not needed. For events with fewer than 50 people, submit the standalone tent permit application at least 10 days before the event.
| Tent Configuration | Permit Required? |
|---|---|
| Under 400 sq ft with sides | No (unless within 20 ft of structure) |
| Under 700 sq ft, no sides (canopy) | No (unless within 20 ft of structure) |
| Over 100 sq ft + within 20 ft of structure | Fire Department inspection required |
| Over 400 sq ft with sides | Special Events inspection required |
| Over 700 sq ft canopy | Special Events inspection required |
| Event with 50+ people | ACE application required (30+ days advance) |
Fire Safety and NFPA Compliance
All permitted tents in Austin must be NFPA 701 compliant, with proof of compliance physically attached to the tent fabric by the manufacturer. Each vendor tent must have a 2A10BC-rated fire extinguisher. Cooking operations using combustible media require an additional Class K-rated extinguisher.
All fire extinguishers must have a current annual inspection tag. The Austin Fire Department conducts on-site inspections for all permitted tent events.
Application Deadlines
The standard ACE application deadline is 30 days before the event, or the Special Events Office deadline for your event tier (whichever is longer). Larger events with street closures or multiple blocks may require 60–90 days of lead time. Standalone tent applications require a minimum of 10 days.
Key Contacts
- Austin Center for Events (ACE): austintexas.gov/ace-event-planning-guide/tents
- Austin Fire Department Tent Permits: fs25.formsite.com/AustinFire/TentApplication
- Special Events Office: SpecialEvents@austintexas.gov
- Austin Special Events Division: (512) 974-9765