The Virginia Beach Police Department’s Special Events Unit is responsible for ensuring safety at City-sponsored and permitted events across Virginia Beach. This includes security planning, event permit reviews, and more.

Planning a Special Event

Some events within the City of Virginia Beach require a Special Event Permit:

• If your event is being held on Parks and Recreation property, visit this link for permit criteria.
• If your event is being held within the City limits but not on Parks and Recreation property, visit this link for permit criteria.

For city-wide events, visit the Convention & Visitors Bureau website to learn more about the application process and to start an application.

For Parks and Recreation events, visit the Parks and Recreation website to learn more about the application process to start an application. 

When planning an event, the Police Department will ask for two key items: a Public Safety Plan and a Traffic Mitigation Plan.

Public Safety Plan

Public Safety Plans mitigate and prepare for event security concerns. Organizers should work with the appropriate permitting office to determine the event’s security needs

If there is a need for security for your event, organizers should employ Virginia Beach Police Department officers, Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office deputies, or an Approved Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Service (DCJS) Security Company.

As a reminder, only armed certified DCJS Security Companies can provide enforcement powers, unarmed security can only observe and report. Visit the DCJS website for more information.

For more information on event security, visit the Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s website.

Traffic Mitigation Plan

Traffic Mitigation Plans are required for any events impeding the public right of way. Organizers should work with the respective permitting office to determine the event’s traffic mitigation needs.

Law enforcement officers from the Police Department or Sheriff’s Office are required to manage road closures. In certain circumstances, Certified Traffic Monitors will be allowed to enforce traffic mitigation. All traffic monitors must hold a certified traffic monitor certification. 

Other things to consider when planning an event in Virginia Beach:

• If your event will use drones, appropriate documentation must be attached to the permit, including but not limited to: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Pilot License, drone specifications, and an overview of the planned drone usage. If the event is occurring in NAS Oceana’s airspace, you must request approval from the FAA. Approval for flights in the airspace under 400 feet can be done on a FAA Approved app through the LANNC System. Flights over 400 feet will need to receive a COAA. When submitting your permit to the City of Virginia Beach, please provide: 
  • The drone operator’s pilot license.
  • Appropriate FAA Documentation.
  • A picture of the drone.
  • A description of your activities with the drone.
• If your event is organized on the water, you must contact the United States Coast Guard (USCG) by submitting an Application for a Marine Permit to determine if a USCG permit is needed. Additionally, a boating safety plan must be included in your application filed with the City.
• If your event will have alcohol, you must apply for a permit with the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). Additionally, your application filed with the City must include an alcohol mitigation security plan.

Hiring Off-Duty Police Officers

VBPD officers are permitted to work certain special events. Visit our Hiring Off-Duty Police Officers webpage to learn more and to hire an officer.

(Note: Organizers planning an event involving alcohol should contact the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office.)