Chapter 6A. Block Parties.
§ 9–631. Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, the term:
(1) “Block party” means an activity of a recreational or civic nature sponsored by the residents of a neighborhood, for which the residents seek to close a block of a street in their neighborhood and for which there is no admission or entrance fee.
(2) “Department” means the District Department of Transportation.
§ 9–632. Block party application and requirements.
(a) The Department shall create a block party application and make it available for in-person pickup and through a Transportation Online Permitting System.
(b)(1) A District resident, 21 years or older, may submit a block party application and request a street closing for the purpose of holding a block party. The street closure shall:
(A) Not be greater than one block;
(B) Not last longer than 12 hours; and
(C) End by 10 p.m.
(2) All activity for a block party shall conclude by 10 p.m.
(c) The block party application shall:
(1) Be completed on the form provided by the Department;
(2) Identify the street name and cross streets of the block to be closed; and
(3) Include a list of at least 51% of the residents, owners, or businesses abutting the section of the street requested to be closed who have consented to the block party.
(d) The applicant shall submit a completed block party application to the Department either online or in person.
§ 9–633. Duties of the Department.
(a) The Department shall be responsible for approving block party applications. No fee shall be charged for the application.
(b) Upon receiving a completed application, the Department shall submit a copy to the Metropolitan Police Department, the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority for comments.
(c) Upon approval of the application, the Department shall prepare the applicant’s permit and any parking signs. The approved block party permit shall be made available to the applicant electronically.
§ 9–634. Criteria for review.
(a) It is the policy of the District to approve block parties.
(b) An application for a block party shall not be denied unless:
(1) It fails to meet the requirements of this chapter;
(2) The event would create a significant public safety concern;
(3) The event would create a significant traffic problem; or
(4) There is substantial neighborhood opposition to the block party.
