Special Events & Temporary Food Program

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Program Description

A Special Event means any gathering (ex. Festival, fundraiser, celebration, etc.) that is open to the public offered free or through the sale of tickets. Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH) regulates event organizers and individual vendors to ensure that Special Events are conducted in a safe and sanitary manner. Special Events include many facets of Environmental Health including food safety, solid/liquid waste disposal, recycling, etc.

Washoe County is home to many large events that are attended by thousands including Hot August Nights, The Best in the West Rib Cook-off, and the Reno Air Races. If an event is large enough (5,000 people per day or greater than 10,000 people total) the event organizer may be required to obtain a Promoter Permit from NNPH. NNPH works with event organizers to ensure that event venues are provided with the required accommodations for individual vendors and the general public.

Each food vendor operating at a Special Event is required to obtain a Temporary Food Establishment Permit from NNPH.  Each Temporary Food Establishment is inspected by NNPH personnel to ensure that food is being handled safely and to help prevent the potential spread of food-borne illness. Please see the required permit applications as well as resources for associated requirements below.

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Requirements for Permit Type

Useful Links



Contact the Program

  • Office Hours: Tuesdays from 10AM - 12PM at the Environmental Health Services Divison Office located at 1001 E. Ninth St. Bldg. B. Reno, NV 89512. 
  • healthspecialevents@nnph.org
  • Kristen deBraga- Senior Environmental Health Specialist

Last modified on 09/17/2025