The Township of Selwyn owns and manages facilities where alcohol consumption is not permitted and other facilities where alcohol is permitted in specified areas under the authority of an AGCO license, extension permit, caterer’s endorsement or special occasion permit. For more information, please visit the Township’s By-laws webpage.
Event Permit
Selwyn Township is a great place to host a wide range of events, such as festivals, fundraisers, walks/runs, parades, concerts, and family focused events.
Pursuant to the Special Events By-law, a Special Event Permit is required for exhibitions, concerts, festivals, or other organized public amusements held for profit or otherwise, where the daily attendance exceeds 500 people, or for events with fewer than 500 people if the event could:
- strain the Township’s emergency services;
- have a foreseeable impact on the regular flow of traffic;
- adversely affect the Selwyn Township community; or
- present an elevated risk to the health and safety of participants or the public.
Please note that although some events are exempt from requiring a Special Event Permit, other permissions or licenses may still apply. The below categories are intended to help event organizers understand the information and documentation Selwyn Township requires prior to approving an event. Please click on the categories below to learn about the areas that may apply to your event.
If you are having Amusement Devices at your event, you are required to provide the full legal names of all attendants. A current (i.e. Not older than 6 months) Criminal Record Check, or a Vulnerable Sector Check for attendants 18 years of age and older, must be provided for all attendants. Amusement Devices require Emergency and Fire Services and TSSA approvals.
Carnivals, festivals and travelling shows have specific electrical safety requirements. ESA requires notification of electrical work for Special Events at least six weeks before the event.
Natural Resources Canada administers the Explosives Act and Regulations, with the goal to keep Canadians safe and secure. This includes regulating activities related to fireworks and pyrotechnics, which covers consumer and display fireworks, special effect pyrotechnics and fireworks accessories.
In accordance with the Township’s Fireworks on Public Property Policy, all display fireworks events shall be conducted by a certified fireworks supervisor/technician and shall be subject to receiving prior approval from the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) as designated by the Explosives Act, in this case the Township of Selwyn Fire Department.
Visit the Township's Plans, Studies and Policies webpage for a copy of the Fireworks on Public Property Policy or contact the Selwyn Township Fire Department 705-292-7282 for more information.
Peterborough Public Health (PPH) Unit’s role is to make sure that the public is protected from health hazards, which is accomplished through review of special event proposals, and inspections of event food vendors and personal service settings.
It is the Applicant’s responsibility to submit a complete “Organizer Application” package to PPH at least 14 days prior to the event that includes all of the applications from both food vendors and personal service setting operators. For more information, please visit the PPH website.
If the Applicant wishes to have refreshment vehicles / food trucks at their event, the Township’s Refreshment Vehicle Licencing By-law may apply. For more information, please visit the Township's By-Laws webpage.
Generators (larger than 12 kW or 240v)
Generators larger than 12 kilowatts or 240 volts must have an electrical notification. An Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) inspector must also review the electrical work. Call 1-877-ESA-SAFE (372-7233) at least six weeks before your Special Event to arrange this. For more information, please visit the ESA website.
The Ontario Fire Code requires that all open-air burning must be approved by Fire Services. Selwyn Township's Open Air Burning By-Law regulates open air fires and burn permits in our community.
Burn permits can only be issued by the Selwyn Fire Department at Hall 1, 833 Ward Street, Bridgenorth. For more information, contact 705-292-7282 or visit the Township's Fire Department page.
Certain activities and event types require the presence of one or more paid duty police officers. The Township of Selwyn has policing agreements with both the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Peterborough Police Service.
The Peterborough Police Service provides police services to the Village of Lakefield. For more information, please visit the Peterborough Police Service website.
The OPP provides police services for the remainder of Selwyn Township. For more information, please visit OPP website.
In accordance with the Private Security and Investigative Services Act, 2005, S.O. 2005, c. 34, all security guards in the province of Ontario must be licensed by the Ministry of the Solicitor General and follow the requirements in the Private Security and Investigative Services Act, 2005, S.O. 2005, c. 34 and its regulations while on duty. Employers of private security guards in Ontario must also be licensed with the Ministry of the Solicitor General. For more information, please visit the Ontario Government website.
Licensed employers and private security guards cannot pretend to offer or provide police-related services and duties.
Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (Drones/UAVs)
Drone pilots must follow the rules in the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs). Special Events that involve drones flying over bystanders, or within 30 metres (100 feet) horizontally of bystanders (measured horizontally) require a Pilot Certificate – Advanced Operations. For more information, please visit the Transport Canada website.
A Road Closure Permit is required for any work or occupation within the road allowance of a highway under the jurisdiction of the Township of Selwyn. Applications for a Road Occupancy that involve a temporary road closure must include a Traffic Control Plan that meets Ontario Traffic Manual (OTM) Book 7 requirements. For more information, please contact the Manager of Community & Corporate Services/Clerk.
A County of Peterborough Road Cut – Occupancy Permit is required when any work, regardless of impacting traffic or not – is completed within the Right of Way of the County of Peterborough.
Signs (for marketing, promotion and communication of proposed closures and detours)
In accordance with the Township of Selwyn (formerly Township of Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield) Sign By-law, a sign permit may be required for the display of signs. For more information, please review the Township’s Sign Permit Guidelines.
Signs installed within a Peterborough County road allowance may require a County Sign Permit. For more information, please visit Peterborough County's website.
A Ministry of Transportation sign permit may be required for signs displayed within 400 meters of any provincial right of way. For more information, please visit the Ontario Government website.
All regulatory, warning, and guide signs used in conjunction with road closures must meet the format and placement prescribed by the Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, and Ontario Traffic Manual Book 7.
If you are using a sound / amplification system at your Special Event, you may be required to apply for an exemption. Contact the Community and Corporate Services/Clerks Department or view a copy of the Township's Noise By-Law.
Temporary Performance/Event Structures
In accordance with the Building Code Act, 1992, S.O. 1992, c. 23, and O. Reg. 163/24, a building permit is required for demountable stages and support structures if one of the following applies:
- more than 60 square metres in area
- more than 225 square metres in combined area
- more than 3 metres in height above adjacent grade level
- any part of the platform or any roof, wall or structure attached to or on any of the platforms is 5 metres or more in height above adjacent ground level
- designed to carry superimposed specified loads greater than 115 kilograms
- would create a hazard to the public
For more information, please visit the Ontario Government website. To obtain a building permit, please visit the Township's Building Services page.
In accordance with the Building Code Act, 1992, S.O. 1992, c. 23, and O. Reg. 163/24, a building permit is required for tents greater than 60 square meters, or groups of tents erected closer than 3 meters apart that cover an area over 60 square meters. To obtain a building permit, please visit the Township's Building Services page.
The Building Code Act, 1992, S.O. 1992, c. 23 and O. Reg. 163/24 specify the minimum number of washrooms (water closets) for assembly occupancies, including the use of buildings or part of a building by a gathering of persons for civic, political, travel, religious, social, educational, recreational or similar purposes or for the consumption of food or drink. For more information, please refer to Article 3.14.1.8. of O. Reg. 163/24.
Special Event Permit Application
Completing this application is the first step toward hosting your event in Selwyn Township. The application provides the Township with important details to ensure a safe and successful event. The Event Organizer is responsible for following up directly with the proper authorities regarding approvals for certain event activities. Click on the categories below to understand these requirements.
There are several agencies that you may be required to contact.
- Peterborough Police Service (if the event is located in Lakefield Ward)
- Ontario Provincial Police (if the event is located in Ennismore or Smith Wards): OPP.Peterborough.County@opp.ca
- Selwyn Fire Department: fire@selwyntownship.ca
- Peterborough County-City Paramedics: RMoloney@ptbocounty.ca
- Peterborough Public Health: info@peterboroughpublichealth.ca
Hosting an Event
When hosting a community event, it's important to plan with both sustainability and accessibility in mind to ensure that your event is welcoming and environmentally responsible. Promote your event early, and consider the following recommendations:
- Speak with neighbouring property owners well in advance to address any potential concerns.
- Submit your event to the Township's Calendar of Events to increase visibility.
- Contact info@selwyntownship.ca to request promotion through the Township's social media channels, eNewsletter, and other platforms.
To support inclusive and eco-friendly practices at your event, consult the following resources:
- Make Your Event Accessible - Guide to Accessible Festivals & Outdoor Events
- Make Your Event Green - Green Event Policy
By incorporating sustainable and inclusive event practices, you help build a stronger, more connected, and environmentally conscious community.
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